Everything out of his mouth felt sincere. Cion was not outwardly malicious, Eida felt, but his inability to grasp on certain strains could be dangerous. Cion would not knowingly break his word. Which made him relax his suspicion on the man.
"You said you wanted to figure it out. There are three major barriers, and one of a different importance that you will understand later. She does not know how I feel, and truth be told, I am not sure how I feel. Which is reason enough to hesitate. However, what stops me are these: a difference in station, an insecurity that leads me to believe she may hold interest with someone else, and an overprotective companion."
Eida never had siblings, but this was probably what it felt like. I desire to trust and open up, with a sense of apprehension because you were uncertain of what they can do with what you just told them.
"You said you wanted to figure it out. There are three major barriers, and one of a different importance that you will understand later. She does not know how I feel, and truth be told, I am not sure how I feel. Which is reason enough to hesitate. However, what stops me are these: a difference in station, an insecurity that leads me to believe she may hold interest with someone else, and an overprotective companion."
Eida never had siblings, but this was probably what it felt like. I desire to trust and open up, with a sense of apprehension because you were uncertain of what they can do with what you just told them.
He lifted his head and cracked and eye so he could look over at Eida, a little disappointed that he wasn't more specific on who it was but it did narrow it down a bit.
”Those problems do not sound too bad. You already know how you feel, you are just afraid of admitting it to yourself. Otherwise, we would not be having this conversation and instead discussing which lady looked best disrobed,” he smirked. Cion realized that he felt a little envious of Eida, not because of his situation but because he was capable of caring about someone so much. He'd never had a similar dilemma, because if he approached a woman and she rejected him it was easy to move on to the next one. Cion wondered if it was even fair for him to offer advice when all he knew was the quick and frivolous affairs he often had.
”Station does not matter, it is only a means for rich old men to marry young beautiful ladies. As far as I can tell, love knows no titles beyond that of beloved or lover,” he chuckled. He sighed and sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees, ”As far as not knowing, well there is only one way to find out and I believe you are a smart enough man to figure that one out. My means of finding out would be a bit more forward than what I think you might be comfortable with. And if you would like, I will go seduce this companion so they are too busy to notice you stealing away this woman's heart.”
”Those problems do not sound too bad. You already know how you feel, you are just afraid of admitting it to yourself. Otherwise, we would not be having this conversation and instead discussing which lady looked best disrobed,” he smirked. Cion realized that he felt a little envious of Eida, not because of his situation but because he was capable of caring about someone so much. He'd never had a similar dilemma, because if he approached a woman and she rejected him it was easy to move on to the next one. Cion wondered if it was even fair for him to offer advice when all he knew was the quick and frivolous affairs he often had.
”Station does not matter, it is only a means for rich old men to marry young beautiful ladies. As far as I can tell, love knows no titles beyond that of beloved or lover,” he chuckled. He sighed and sat up, leaning his elbows on his knees, ”As far as not knowing, well there is only one way to find out and I believe you are a smart enough man to figure that one out. My means of finding out would be a bit more forward than what I think you might be comfortable with. And if you would like, I will go seduce this companion so they are too busy to notice you stealing away this woman's heart.”
Eida could not help but laugh at that image. Cion trying to seductively get under Sanjuro's mask was a bit much. He had to let the fiery man know what he had just offered to do.
"Unfortunately, when her station is to inherit a kingdom, it is not the place for an advisor to be. She is kind and generous to everyone she meets, giving all an opportunity to speak with her privately. How am I supposed to be certain that she would see me as anything more than a confidant and friend to lean on because of the difficulties we share? Besides, Chanekeh has no love for me and my people. He would not mourn if something were to happen to me, and I would not put it beyond his machinations for something more sinister.
He wants her to marry a weak-willed son of the Khal's for some reason, but I want her to make a decision like that freely, not because some great leader threatened her people. Naive and impossible. So I sit on my thumbs because facing what I believe would result in getting her hurt." He was rambling. Why was he rambling? Not to mention getting worked up over this. Eida knew better. Short, succinct, to the point. Inform and get out of the way. That was what he learned, that was what kept him out of trouble.
"Besides, in a situation like this, I cannot objectively compare the women, my bias wins out. I apologize for taking your time like that, it is useless to bemoan what you do not have strength enough to change."
"Unfortunately, when her station is to inherit a kingdom, it is not the place for an advisor to be. She is kind and generous to everyone she meets, giving all an opportunity to speak with her privately. How am I supposed to be certain that she would see me as anything more than a confidant and friend to lean on because of the difficulties we share? Besides, Chanekeh has no love for me and my people. He would not mourn if something were to happen to me, and I would not put it beyond his machinations for something more sinister.
He wants her to marry a weak-willed son of the Khal's for some reason, but I want her to make a decision like that freely, not because some great leader threatened her people. Naive and impossible. So I sit on my thumbs because facing what I believe would result in getting her hurt." He was rambling. Why was he rambling? Not to mention getting worked up over this. Eida knew better. Short, succinct, to the point. Inform and get out of the way. That was what he learned, that was what kept him out of trouble.
"Besides, in a situation like this, I cannot objectively compare the women, my bias wins out. I apologize for taking your time like that, it is useless to bemoan what you do not have strength enough to change."
Cion was dumbstruck for a moment before he started feeling like an ass. Here he was boldly pursuing the princess carelessly and publicly when Eida obviously cared for her. It made his game a lot less fun.
”Callista… the princess..” he said slowly making sure he understood right. ”Well she does not offer to speak with me privately if that makes you feel any better. I cannot blame you for wanting such a woman but she seems so focused on her duties and distant. I only pursued her because it seemed like something fun to do, no wonder she never acted interested,” Cion ran his fingers through his still damp hair, not liking how this revelation made him feel one bit. He also hated not being able to solve a problem for someone, it was frustrating to no end.
”Marriages of convenience were common where my father was from so he swore he would let us make our own decisions. Do you think that she loves the Khal's son? How does she feel about all this? You cannot possibly let her go through with it before you have told her how you feel. Also, it is not a waste of time if talking about it helps you, I just wish I could do more.” he said then threw his hands up. ”Fine, I will seduce this masked man if it will help you and he will he swooning like a handmaiden in no time. Except I do not think I am his type,” he arched his eyebrows and grinned.
”Callista… the princess..” he said slowly making sure he understood right. ”Well she does not offer to speak with me privately if that makes you feel any better. I cannot blame you for wanting such a woman but she seems so focused on her duties and distant. I only pursued her because it seemed like something fun to do, no wonder she never acted interested,” Cion ran his fingers through his still damp hair, not liking how this revelation made him feel one bit. He also hated not being able to solve a problem for someone, it was frustrating to no end.
”Marriages of convenience were common where my father was from so he swore he would let us make our own decisions. Do you think that she loves the Khal's son? How does she feel about all this? You cannot possibly let her go through with it before you have told her how you feel. Also, it is not a waste of time if talking about it helps you, I just wish I could do more.” he said then threw his hands up. ”Fine, I will seduce this masked man if it will help you and he will he swooning like a handmaiden in no time. Except I do not think I am his type,” he arched his eyebrows and grinned.
May had just finished wrapping her in the soft toga that the priestesses have provided for them when she heard Jillian’s whistle behind her. Looking over her shoulder she spotted Donovan he exiting the steam room rather hurriedly. Calista wondered why he looked so upset and could only think that one of the boys had gotten into mischief at some point. Of course, Eida was not a likely culprit, seeing his typical self control and proper behavior most of the time, and the fact that him and Donovan seemed respectful of each other. Which only left their new companion as the likely party to have started some trouble.
Callista gave her handmaiden a smile, noticing her sudden interest in watching the girls talk. ”May, why don't you stay and help the other women? I can find my way back to my room,” she said making her way out of the baths. The princess took her time getting back to their quarters, realizing that Donovan had left nude and wanting to give him plenty of time to dress before she knocked on his door.
Callista gave her handmaiden a smile, noticing her sudden interest in watching the girls talk. ”May, why don't you stay and help the other women? I can find my way back to my room,” she said making her way out of the baths. The princess took her time getting back to their quarters, realizing that Donovan had left nude and wanting to give him plenty of time to dress before she knocked on his door.
Eida smiled a rare smile for this man, willing to make light of a deadly situation. "She spent more time walking the palace grounds than she did with any of the Khal's sons, and since one of them had taken a Second Breath as a Dragon, he had become the assumed to-be husband. I do not want to distract her from her path, so I keep my thoughts to myself, but I want her to become confident in her own decisions, and sure enough with herself that she can deny the Khal herself. When that happens, I will tell her.." He was not sure about how much Cion had put together in the last few days, but maybe some extra insight could help. He sighed and poured some more water over the hot coals, hot steam billowing up to blur his vision
"I cannot help but feel that Donovan has feelings for her though, and I do not want to step on his toes. My people are dead or slaves, I have very little I can offer to Callista. He is a Knight of his people, in line to be a great General. It sounds foolish, but I would wish her comfort over my own." Foolish, short-sighted, whatever it was did not matter. Her place was in front of her people, happy. No matter who was at her side, Eida could move forward as long as those two things happened.
"I cannot help but feel that Donovan has feelings for her though, and I do not want to step on his toes. My people are dead or slaves, I have very little I can offer to Callista. He is a Knight of his people, in line to be a great General. It sounds foolish, but I would wish her comfort over my own." Foolish, short-sighted, whatever it was did not matter. Her place was in front of her people, happy. No matter who was at her side, Eida could move forward as long as those two things happened.
Cion scratched his chin while watching the steam refill the room. ”What reason does she have to deny the Khal if she does not know there are other options?” He asked. The princess seemed like a nice enough woman but he wondered if she was too busy to even notice the sorcerer, whose feelings seemed very genuine. Cion didn't know a whole lot about politics but he had a feeling that there would be some great repercussions if Callista denied the Khal.
”Go bhfóire Dia orainn, Donovan too? That may explain why speaking of women upset him so. From my experience with the fair sex, they are less interested in what you can give them materially and more concerned with how you make them feel. Those interested in actual love anyway. I guess I shall desist in courting her then,” he sighed but hardly sounded that forlorn about the idea.
”Go bhfóire Dia orainn, Donovan too? That may explain why speaking of women upset him so. From my experience with the fair sex, they are less interested in what you can give them materially and more concerned with how you make them feel. Those interested in actual love anyway. I guess I shall desist in courting her then,” he sighed but hardly sounded that forlorn about the idea.
"Her own will. If she were to deny him because of someone there, Chanekeh and his Death Guard would spare no expense to eliminate them. That has been made abundantly clear. If, however, she had the will of her people behind her, the Khal would need to consider the repercussions. Having his newly located capital turning on his men would end poorly for everyone." Eida shrugged, there really was not a good way to deal with the problem other than to accumulate allies and power.
"What do you say we rejoin the others? If we were to stay here, it would look like one of us deliberately drove Donovan off for some reason or another. I do not want the group's integrity strained because of a miscommunication."
"What do you say we rejoin the others? If we were to stay here, it would look like one of us deliberately drove Donovan off for some reason or another. I do not want the group's integrity strained because of a miscommunication."
”I believe that ship has sailed, or so they say, if the women noticed Donovan leave,” he said but he stood to go rejoin the others in the regular bath. ”You could always sweep her off her feet and take her away. It is what I would do.” There were many reasons that Cion didn't understand duty and responsibility but he had a vague understanding that his suggestion was a moot one. The princess didn't seem the type to get up and leave her life, but then again he didn't really know her all that well.
Donovan picked at his toga. He was frustrated and angry. Not at his companions, but at himself. It was ridiculous getting angry about a fact anyway. He should change out of this and go for a ride, or spar or something to burn out the stress.
*knock knock* sigh, now what, Cion coming to rub his nose in it?
he turned to open the door.
*knock knock* sigh, now what, Cion coming to rub his nose in it?
he turned to open the door.
Callista waited patiently for the door to open, a touch anxious that her visit would be perceived as intruding but if she could help alleviate some tension in the group it was worth it. The princess knew visiting a man in his quarters could be perceived scandalous but of everyone in the group, she trusted Donovan’s adherence to decorum. They were also no longer regular mortals and she felt the rules applying to them could bend, if not just a little.
”Hello Donovan,” she smiled a little trying to discern if the look on his face was surprise at her presence or if he was still upset about something. The toga was much less covering than what he normally wore and even though she was used to some of the cultures the Khal had recruited being shirtless most of the time, it was odd seeing his defined shoulders and arms exposed. Callista realized that she hadn't known that he had a tattoo like Mercy’s and wondered how she could had missed it. ”You left the baths in haste, so I thought I should make sure everything was alright.”
”Hello Donovan,” she smiled a little trying to discern if the look on his face was surprise at her presence or if he was still upset about something. The toga was much less covering than what he normally wore and even though she was used to some of the cultures the Khal had recruited being shirtless most of the time, it was odd seeing his defined shoulders and arms exposed. Callista realized that she hadn't known that he had a tattoo like Mercy’s and wondered how she could had missed it. ”You left the baths in haste, so I thought I should make sure everything was alright.”
Donovan's body relaxed from the tension that had wound up expecting, he didn't know... something, upon seeing the princess. Though he could tell her likely even less then he could the others.
Yes. Yes, everything is fine, my Lady.
The others deserved no portion of blame for his actions. I... I embarrassed myself in front of the others and was ashamed, so I left. I did not mean to cause anyone concern.
Yes. Yes, everything is fine, my Lady.
The others deserved no portion of blame for his actions. I... I embarrassed myself in front of the others and was ashamed, so I left. I did not mean to cause anyone concern.
Callista couldn't imagine Donovan embarrassing himself, not with how strictly he adhered to his level of professionalism. ”I was concerned that.. one of the others had said something to upset you. I wanted to make sure everything was alright,” she said, avoiding pointing out just who she thought might have inflamed him. Cion was nice enough but she wasn't ignorant to his advances and bold way of speaking. Callista wouldn't have been surprised if he had said something crass in private, something about herself that had set Donovan off. It wasn't personal, she was sure his code of honor would have dictated him to defend any lady, however due to their situation he may have held back.
Donovan smiled warmly at her concern.
Thank you for your concern, it is most appreciated. He sighed forgoing his normally reserved continence. I don’t think the others could say anything that would really bother me. The problem is that I spend so much time guarding outwardly, sometime I fail and forget to mind myself. Despite expectations otherwise… he spread his hands I am not perfect
Thank you for your concern, it is most appreciated. He sighed forgoing his normally reserved continence. I don’t think the others could say anything that would really bother me. The problem is that I spend so much time guarding outwardly, sometime I fail and forget to mind myself. Despite expectations otherwise… he spread his hands I am not perfect
”No one expects you to be perfect, Donovan,” she said placing a hand on his arm and smiling kindly. ”I feel that most of our second souls were friends and companions long ago and I think it would be nice if it could be that way again. Perhaps it is time that you do not guard yourself outwardly so much. We are no longer at court and things are not quite the same as they were before we were chosen. It would gladden me if the others could see you the way I do, as a warm kind person and not some someone hidden behind convention.”
You’ve had memories of your past life then? he hung his head I can only hope you didn’t know me then. I’ve had dreams about it. I raised rulers up from nothing. Financed wonders that improved quality and quantity of life… Also With silver and gold bought up armies and navies. I turned brother against brother, child against parent – they murdered each other for my favor. Who I was is not who I am. Now I question if I truly am a kind person- and if I am, can I afford to be one anymore, especially with myself?
”As Ruby has named it a Circle, and I believe we were all part of one, at least the four of us that exalted at Karakorum. I am unsure about Cion's previous self but in time I am sure we will learn if anyone of our pasts are linked. I only remember bits and pieces, whomever's memories are in me carried an obsession with rising the people to worship only Sol Invictus and follow his virtues explicitly. He certainly was one for oration, I can even remember parts of sermons,” she said, then after a moment's thought she decided that she trusted Donovan enough to tell him the other part. ”There is also this pale haired woman, who I can only assume was his lover or even more.” There wasn't much to assume, her flashbacks had vividly proved that was exactly the case and she blushed a little just thinking about them.
What he daren't tell her, and the part that scared him most was that the pain and destruction from his previous life wasn't that far from his mind. He would overthrow the Khal and kill his sons; lay the kingdom to ruin or at her feet if it would mean that she would be happy to choose her own fate. It didn't even matter if it was him or if she chose a partner at all. It was just important that she was happy. The thought that such a gift would bring a greater cost of grief than joy let him know that he was somewhat grounded in reality still- but if she ever asked...
So you think that is your lunar half? Between Jill and the Peakock they make I sound as if our fates are decided well beyond what our stations have dictated for our lives. he shook his head I like to think that he gods empowered us for good. I hope that whatever our paths bring us, that yours finds... Not just happiness, but joy
So you think that is your lunar half? Between Jill and the Peakock they make I sound as if our fates are decided well beyond what our stations have dictated for our lives. he shook his head I like to think that he gods empowered us for good. I hope that whatever our paths bring us, that yours finds... Not just happiness, but joy
”I don’t like to think that fate controls everything, sometimes I would like to hold hope that the future is not set as foolish as that sounds. As for Lunars, I only know what Jillian has told us and the little we could gleam from Awilix’s behavior. The woman I see often in those visions could possibly be the Lunar intended as my shard’s mate. I know her only by ‘Dove’ in those recollections,” she said but a nagging part of her memory told her that this was not the case. The woman was more grounded and too gentle to be ruled by a beastly side, not that she assumed all Lunars were but somehow that was her impression, or perhaps her second soul’s impression. Thinking about it created an itch in her mind that no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t seem to reach. ”You are a good person, Donovan. I do not believe for a second you would create wanton destruction in such a malicious way. I hope we all find joy in our new lives, and greater purpose.”
Eida took a rare moment and put a hand on Cion's shoulder, stopping him. "Thank you for listening. I will return the favor anytime." He walked out with his companion, feeling like he found a brother in a way.
The steam parted as they made their way back out to the now relatively cool, spa area. Most of the girls were all huddled in one area talking, but Callista was conspicuously absent from among them. Mercy was posturing in the middle of an animated story for their guide while Rebekah and Jiillian watched in amusement. Mayumi had withdrawn from the others and was looking conflicted with herself, which, while curious, was probably because the Princess had told her to do something. Eida sat down in the soothing water and shut his eyes, listening to his adopted "family" enjoying themselves.
The steam parted as they made their way back out to the now relatively cool, spa area. Most of the girls were all huddled in one area talking, but Callista was conspicuously absent from among them. Mercy was posturing in the middle of an animated story for their guide while Rebekah and Jiillian watched in amusement. Mayumi had withdrawn from the others and was looking conflicted with herself, which, while curious, was probably because the Princess had told her to do something. Eida sat down in the soothing water and shut his eyes, listening to his adopted "family" enjoying themselves.
Moderators: cyranax Callista (played anonymously) Eida (played anonymously) Kellian Roux (played anonymously)