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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 17, 2009 16:21:58 GMT -5
I chuckled. "I would not say devout." I said softly. "More just a cautious believer." I teased.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 17, 2009 16:43:21 GMT -5
I chuckled at that, it was a good description of what I considered most people's faith. "I like that." I said, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "Cautious believer, what a clever turn of phrase." I smiled at him. "You're a very witty man, Maric."
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 19, 2009 0:02:02 GMT -5
I looked at her with a genuine smile. I very rarely got such a compliment, especially now a days, and I wondered if she was just being nice or if she actually meant it. Looking into her eyes I stared at her for a moment, my brows knitting for a second before looking toward where we were walking. "Thank you." I said softly, glancing to her before back forward, but now I felt a little put on the spot, as if I should be witty again. And since I couldn't think of anything, I blushed, feeling silly for not being able to say anything but my thanks.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 19, 2009 12:56:43 GMT -5
His smile was sweet, but I seemed to have made him uncomfortable. I had a knack for that, I'd noticed, even when I wasn't actively trying. "You're welcome." I said, as we continued walking. We seemed to have reached an awkward silence, which I decided to break by commenting on reasons besides prayer that people came to Kushiel's Sanctuary. "So, you came to pray, and not to make penance?" I quirked a brow and gave him a sly smile.
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 19, 2009 20:31:46 GMT -5
I was thankful that the conversation didn't lag long in silence, Naia being smoother then I and asked another question. I chuckled as I glanced to her with a bright grin. "Hmm, I'm not even sure where to start with that one." I said with a knowing grin as I looked at her. My time at Mandrake had been a sort of pennance to me when I had...spilled myself, at Sophine's natale. I would have gone back to Avianna after that day in the palace courtyard, but I hadn't the money to. "I'm not sure I'm here for penance," I confused some what surprisingly. "I think I'm here for hope."
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 19, 2009 21:21:41 GMT -5
Interesting answer ... hope was not a feeling I was very familiar with, but it was an intriguing concept. "Hope, hmm?" I wanted to ask why he felt he needed it, but I supposed that type of question would be too personal to ask of someone I'd known for only minutes. Instead I said, "Perhaps that is why I ended up here, as well." I grinned at him, then added, "Stranger things have happened, right?" I knew I was being a little cryptic, what did he know of me and my need for some type of redemption?
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 13:33:10 GMT -5
I looked at Naia for a moment, my eyes on hers, gazing deep into them as I thought about what she said. There...deep down...if you really concentrated you could see some sort of hurt, some sort of deep longing for something and I knitted my brow a bit sadly at her. On the outside Naia seemed like any other girl my age, but I wondered what was underneath that happy exterior. After realizing that I had been staring a little I chuckled and looked back toward where we were headed, a large bronze statue of the Lord Kushiel himself. "Hopes important, even if we don't inately realize it. Its always there, hope...hope that things will be good, hope that people will treat you as best they can," I paused as I stared a little at the statue as it came more clearly into view. "Hope that you'll connect with some one who, can't help, but to connect back." I said at length as I felt the deep guiding pressence of the God of Punishment. I felt my gaze fix in a trance like state as I ponded just exactly that. "Funny isn't it, almost ironic that we've come for hope from the God of Punishment." I said with a snorted laughed.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 18:14:36 GMT -5
He regarded me for several moments, but I didn't speak to break the silence, and then we were there, at the statue of Kushiel, the Punisher. Maric began to speak then, and his words were softly spoken, but weighty. The things he said made my stomach contract slightly, and my chest hurt. At one point in my life, my eyes might have burned with tears at the longing his words stirred, but I was long since all cried out.
"Not so funny, perhaps." I said softly, thinking. I felt suddenly sober, my flippant nonchalant disappearing in the face of the statue. "In punishment we often find redemption, which is akin to hope, don't you think?"
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 19:25:48 GMT -5
I glanced to Naia as she spoke and then we stopped at the statue and I stared back up at it. "That seems to simple to be true." I said softly, almost more to myself as I cast my searching eyes over the mask he bore.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 20:18:36 GMT -5
"The simplest answers are often true." I said, shrugging as we regarded the statue. "We only seek to complicate things because that is human nature." I wondered where these deep thoughts were coming from, it was so unlike me. I leaned over so that my hair fell forward to cover my face. Perhaps I had a prayer somewhere inside me that I hadn't even realized?
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 22:40:50 GMT -5
I chuckled softly as I looked at the statue. "I don't think I meant that." I said as I took in every bit of the face before us. "I guess I just meant that its a simple concept. That we could come for redemption and then find hope because of it." I turned my head to look at Naia and saw her hair cascading over her shoulder, I reached up and pushed her hair back over her should so that I could see the side of her face. "Are you alright?" I asked softly.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 22:45:22 GMT -5
I was a master at hiding my feelings and it only took me a moment to smile and nod. "Yes." I laughed softly. "Being in the presence of Kushiel's spirit appears to have made me introspective. Perhaps I am more religious than even I previously believed." I smiled wryly, shaking my head. "Do you feel it, or perhaps I am just plagued by conscience?"
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 22:53:56 GMT -5
I chuckled and smiled as I looked at her. "I don't believe you." I said softly as I raised my brow at her, staring at her for a moment before looking at the statue again. "He'd punish you for that." I teased a little, but my voice held an almost knowing tone as I thought about Avianna and shivered with pleasure.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:03:55 GMT -5
I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of punishment, and the thought that followed closely after - that maybe it was something I deserved. I buried that thought and the welter of emotions it brought up quickly. "You're right, I actually have no conscience." I teased back, laughing lightly, as if there was nothing more under the surface.
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:07:13 GMT -5
I chuckled and looked at her again. "Are you always so deflective?" I asked curiously.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:09:52 GMT -5
I decided to answer this one honestly, so I simply replied, "Yes." Then I smiled and tucked my hair back. "I do my best."
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:13:40 GMT -5
I turned to her and reached up, my hand going to her chin as my fingers turned her face to mine. "You shouldn't." I said softly as I looked down at her, my brows knit in a concerned fashion.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:21:08 GMT -5
I regarded him through my lashes, wondering why he would even care ... I was a stranger, no one to him. It was in my nature to watch for the ulterior motives of others, but I couldn't seem to find one here. Still, I hadn't survived this long by letting my guard, so I simply smiled softly. "Perhaps not," I said, "But we can only be who we are, and apparently I am someone who wouldn't know a straight answer if it slapped me senseless."
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:24:13 GMT -5
My hand dropped from her face and I knitted my brows, my face half sad and half pleased by her answer. "Or maybe you've just being lieing so long you've forgotten what the truth is." I said turning to look at Kushiel once more. "I think the truth is you're here for the same reason I am. Love."
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:32:30 GMT -5
I blinked at his response, and laughed out loud. A self-mocking laugh, to be sure. "Love?" I shook my head, my halo of dark hair fanning out around me as I did. "That's the last thing I'm looking for." Wasn't it? "Love is definitely not for me." I picked up on the fact that love was apparently what had brought him there, and I moved to that topic. "What about love brings you to Kushiel?"
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:36:32 GMT -5
I chuckled softly. "There you go deflecting again." I said not even looking at her as I spoke, my eyes forward. "May be you just haven't admitted that its love you're searching for, instead of everything else you scramble in the dark for." I added a bit sobberly, thinking about my own heart.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:45:41 GMT -5
At this point I thought he might be projecting, obviously love was on his mind today. For myself, he may or may not have a point, but it wasn't something I was ready to think about, so I simply let it pass. "If you didn't want to tell me, all you had to do was say so." I teased.
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:48:31 GMT -5
I chuckled and looked at her. "Are you always like this?" I asked as I turned my back to the statue and stood in front of her.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 20, 2009 23:54:24 GMT -5
"Like what?" I asked, canting my head to the side slightly. "Fun-loving and lighthearted?" Inwardly, even I had to laugh at that - those words didn't describe me in the least. "I do try to lighten the mood whenever possible." That was almost true, when it suited me. "Are you always so serious?"
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 20, 2009 23:56:47 GMT -5
I watched her and smiled seeing the sarcasm that was there, whether she had purposely meant it or not. "Always, when I'm around beautiful girls that lie to me." I knit my brows in almost a challenging fashion, but kept a soft smile on my face.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 21, 2009 0:02:20 GMT -5
"Does not offering up one's personal feelings always translate to lying?" I asked, my chin coming up. I was beginning to feel a bit insulted. "Contrary to what some may believe, I do not count myself a liar, simply one who doesn't care to wear her heart, such as it, on her sleeve."
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 21, 2009 0:08:22 GMT -5
I enjoyed the flair of anger in her, the look in her eyes was full of fire and I smiled more widely as I staired deep into her eyes. "No, but I person who refuses to be themselves is a liar. They may not lie with their words, but not being true to who they are is just as much gravity as one who lies through their lips." I leaned forward, my eyes on her, my lips just a breath away from hers, my head tilted slightly as if I were to kiss her. "Don't you think its easier being yourself then pretending that you're as happy and care free as you make yourself look." I knitted my brows and kept my gentle smile as I pulled back. "You do a good job looking like everyone else, no one who would care to look would see it. But there..." I said brushing my thumb over her brow. "Just beneath the surface, thats where your fire lirks. I see it when I look in your eyes, you're missing something, just as much as I am."
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 21, 2009 0:13:19 GMT -5
I smiled, intrigued by the conversation once I perceived that he meant no insult. I didn't think he saw me as clearly as he thought, however. "Perhaps I am not the most happy person, yet I am still who I am. It suits me to keep certain things to myself, and that is no pretense. Perhaps I am missing something, perhaps not, can you be so sure you know what is the lie and what is the truth with a person you've only just met?" I smiled then. "I personally think none of us are so black and white. Do you?" It was an honest question, I truly wondered if things really were so simple to his mind, whereas they seemed so complicated to mine.
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Post by Maric du Verais on Apr 21, 2009 0:15:57 GMT -5
I smiled even wider at her response and chuckled a little. "No, things are not so black and white." I replied. "And no, I don't know you very well, but I very much intend to find out more." I reached down and took her hand in mine.
"Come on." I said and tugged her hand, I spotted a side door and hoped it would take me where I thought it might. I hurried toward it, towing her behind me.
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Post by Naia Shahrizai on Apr 21, 2009 0:27:58 GMT -5
I was surprised at this sudden turn of events, but, bemused, I followed him, though I hardly had a choice. "Where are we going?" I asked, as we passed through a side door.
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