Alaric fights to stay calm, but the truth is, he's growing more upset by the second. <I'm not disgusted by you, Zaiobe. Just... just the offer. Because there was a time where I was exactly where you were. And I hate that I could have put you in a place like that, because I know how disgusted I was by myself. I went for the purely physical, and it's not something I want anymore, and when you said that's all you wanted, that's what I was reacting to. Not you.>
<Ah. Well. On the bright side, I suppose, at least I was lying about that.>
There is a slight pause.
<Do the two of you want me to move out?>
"Spivey! Myri clenches up hard. "What are you doing? Don't, please!" there is a bit of panic in her voice, even as her body responds to her (unwanted?) thoughts.
Myri looks around wildly for a place to hide or the quickest way to vacate the room. She briefly considers a fugitive grenade, but that would be even more obvious and probably attract pursuit, she instead opts for a potion of vanish...and does so. (assuming she has spotted said place to hide or way out)
ok! hey! comingout now! i was justteasing! i would nevergo spelunking withoutpermission.
Pause.
um ... whereyougo?
There is a slight pause.
<Um. What I was doing earlier? Obviously I don't have to actually be ... participating, to do it. It would involve dropping the polite fiction that I'm not aware, if that would disturb you. But since I am, from where I stand, it wouldn't make anything worse for me. So if you want that some time, just ask.>
<I'd be happy to do it as a favor to friends.>
ok! hey! comingout now! i was justteasing! i would nevergo spelunking withoutpermission.
Pause.
um ... whereyougo?
Myri attempts to grab (grapple) Spivey gently and pull her out into the light (so to speak). Myri is breathing heavily.
um, lvl6CMB roll?:
Probably a miss, unless she is allowing herself to be drawn out.
If she does:
"Spivey...I..I've been a.attracted to you since I first saw you at Brinewall, b.but I've never um...g.gone "spelunking" with anyone...a.and definitely not in front of..of everyone. I c.couldn't."
Myri is definitely feeling flushed & torn between the attraction she's felt for the tiny creature <ludicrous, isn't it?> and the thought of what was... ... ... what was happening? not actually all that much really, I guess. the excess heat begins to leave her body. <was that all in my mind? that was just teasing right?>
"I..Spivey, I'm sorry, I guess I p.probably overreacted. It..you caught be off guard. But...in front of my sister? How could you?" Myri has a bit of mock outrage in her voice now.
"Spivey...I..I've been a.attracted to you since I first saw you at Brinewall, b.but I've never um...g.gone "spelunking" with anyone...a.and definitely not in front of..of everyone. I c.couldn't."
"I..Spivey, I'm sorry, I guess I p.probably overreacted. It..you caught be off guard. But...in front of my sister? How could you?" Myri has a bit of mock outrage in her voice now.
what, i cannot hugfriend in public? hadno idea your sister was so antihugging. wouldnot thinkso, guessing she isgoing to be hugged a lot tonight.
She cocks her head, looking at you.
youthink that i am attractive?
A deep breath. Then, quickly, so as not to lose his nerve: <I love Melinda more than I thought it was possible to love another person. The thought of sharing her fills me with very real dread, because I'm terrified of losing her. I know on some level, that's irrational. But it's still there. And I compare you to me... and there's not much comparison. I'm worried that you could take her.>
He's getting deeper into his psyche, now, not bothering to censor himself. <Before Mel, most of my experience was with... um... working girls. They often used sex to pay me. For my services. And, well, it wasn't what I'd call fulfilling. So now that I have someone who doesn't use sex for anything... that just wants it because she loves me? It's wonderful. Amazing. And your offer sort of brought that earlier baggage back. Which isn't your fault, and there's no way you could have known.>
The thoughts take a red tinge of shame. <And then there's the persistent fear that you're only after us because you want her. I'm just the necessary evil you have to put up with to get to her.>
what, i cannot hugfriend in public? hadno idea your sister was so antihugging. wouldnot thinkso, guessing she isgoing to be hugged a lot tonight.
"No, no of course Shae isn't anti-hugging, well, don't think she's into displays of affection in public with anyone other than Lio, but that's besides the point. Hugging is fine. Going past that point...say as an example um, 'spelunking' where others can see it happen...that would be um, crossing the line, you know? I...I'm sorry if I'm not very clear, I..I'm not um...I haven't um...I'm..not exactly experienced in um..this matter."
She cocks her head, looking at you.
youthink that i am attractive?
"Very! When we met in Brinewall, didn't you see me give you a look of amazement, envy, sadness, hope and homesickness and call you a beauteous, fascinating, glistening winged creature? No...no wait, I think that was just in my head. I guess you wouldn't have heard that." she ends a little sheepishly.
<Well. First. No one is prying her off of you with a crowbar. Seriously. Trust me, I'm a telepath.>
<Second. I wouldn't ... do that. I know my honesty in all of this hasn't been as exactly as perfect as it could have could have been, so I can understand why you might think that of me. But I would never sleep with someone just to get at their partner. I'm not that ... horrible of a person. When I said this was about both of you, I meant it.>
<Third. I can accept that you don't want to sleep with me because you are not in love with me. I can accept it if there's no room for another in what the two of you have. I can accept plain ordinary lack of interest. These things hurt, how could they not, but they are reasons I cannot help but understand, and I will therefore deal with it. But. I will not accept LOW SELF ESTEEM as a reason. From either one of you. That is off the table. I am taking the rejection, but I am hereby expressly stating that it cannot be because you believe a woman throwing herself at you with humiliating desperation WAS NOT ACTUALLY INTERESTED.>
"No, no of course Shae isn't anti-hugging, well, don't think she's into displays of affection in public with anyone other than Lio, but that's besides the point. Hugging is fine. Going past that point...say as an example um, 'spelunking' where others can see it happen...that would be um, crossing the line, you know? I...I'm sorry if I'm not very clear, I..I'm not um...I haven't um...I'm..not exactly experienced in um..this matter."
She nods solemnly. you onlywant me be slutty withyou inprivate. got it.
"Very! When we met in Brinewall, didn't you see me give you a look of amazement, envy, sadness, hope and homesickness and call you a beauteous, fascinating, glistening winged creature? No...no wait, I think that was just in my head. I guess you wouldn't have heard that." she ends a little sheepishly.
Spivey ponders. must havebeen. i wouldremember glistening, i am prettysure.
She blushes a deep jade. Shame colors the next thoughts, <He is right, though. As much as I try to think it is, our relationship isn't private. There is Makoa... Suishen...> A pause, long. <Frankly, I... like you better than either of them.> A shorter pause, <That isn't making this any easier for you, is it?>
<And my jealousy doesn't help either.> Followed by the inadvertent thought, 'Already jealous of every woman he's been with...'
She nods solemnly. you onlywant me be slutty withyou inprivate. got it.
"I um......"
Spivey ponders. must havebeen. i wouldremember glistening, i am prettysure.
Myri blushes again, "No, um, your wings...in the sun, they glisten. They...they're beautiful."
......
...
[b]"Umm, Spivey, umm, maybe I'm misreading this, but if you..if you're interested in me..um, I....am, but I...youshouldknowIhaveadatewithButtersnipsoncewegetbacktoKalsgard. Is...is that a..problem?
<Well. I don't know what to say to ... Unless there's some way I can make this conversation even more awkward now, but honestly I can't even imagine what that would take.>
Umm, Spivey, umm, maybe I'm misreading this, but if you..if you're interested in me..um, I....am, but I...youshouldknowIhaveadatewithButtersnipsoncewegetbacktoKalsgard. Is...is that a..problem?
problem? nah. havefun. start your harem of smallprettywomen.
<It seems you are part of our relationship, even if it is a part that is torturous to you and makes me feel like we are horrible people. So, friends? Very, very close friends.> A pause, <And if you fall in love with someone else we can be thrilled for you. And if not... We do love you. I promise.>
Easier said than done. Alaric takes a deep breath (he must be close to hyperventilating considering how many it's been), shakes his hands out and thinks: <Melinda, when we get back to the inn, I want to have sex with you. And, if it's all right with you, I think we should try having Zaiobe in the room, since she's going to be listening anyway.>
Long pause. <And when we're done, I was thinking we should probably eat something.>
Lio doesn't let go, her voice is a little muffled. "Well, on the positive, If... if it were to happen, that, you... died... I'm pretty sure I can reincarnate you. Although, I can't guarantee what you'd come back as... if you'd want to... I mean, come back to me." The last bit is said hesitantly.
"Always," Shalelu replies. "Always."
Then, after a few moments - "Annwyl ... have you gotten ... stronger?"
problem? nah. havefun. start your harem of smallprettywomen.
Myri feels like her face is on fire. "I...um..ah..I.I don't even begin to know what dad would think about that."
<Would either of you mind if I, um, enjoyed myself? During it?>
Myri feels like her face is on fire. "I...um..ah..I.I don't even begin to know what dad would think about that."
what is a dad? Spivey asks curiously.
"I was in the same boat, if it matters," Koya says.
Rhost nods. "See town tomorrow?"
"Always," Shalelu replies. "Always."
Then, after a few moments - "Annwyl ... have you gotten ... stronger?"
Lio positively beams at your answer to her slightly morbid, but necessary at least in her mind question because really, you never know, it could happen, and then what?
"I... have. ...Sorry." She apologizes, and undoes 1000 faces, becoming her normal, weaker self. She untangles herself from holding you tightly, although she maintains a loose hug while she looks up at you.
"I guess, the stress, and the fights, and coming to find you, it made me more focused, I can cast some more spells and, I can do something else, but... I, I don't think I am ready to... not yet." She looks at you, her large eyes pleading for patience. This is something she hasn't come to terms with, the implications, are mind boggling. You can probably read that she's terrified, possibly of herself.
"Can we... get a snack, because I don't know about you, but I haven't eaten since yesterday." She bites her lip "...and then find a bathhouse with a private room?" She blushes, and then gets worried, because what if she shows you, what if you don't approve? But she fights the fear, and continues... "and once we're clean... maybe, then... I can tell you, and if you want, ...after... maybe we can have a proper dinner, and see if we can find that bard you wanted to hear?" She looks so... fragile. Perhaps it is because of the poisoning, not that she's told you about that... Or perhaps it's her insecurity showing though. "I... just want to spend some time with you, and... please?"
what is a dad? Spivey asks curiously.
"A dad? Well, uh, a dad is a father figure. Uh, someone to look up to of the male persuasion, uh...the way we, uh, mortals are um, brought into being a man and a..a woman get together and...uh...spelunk of sorts, I guess, and um, their uh, essence merges together to form their child which is created in the woman, um, somewhere about here" she places a hand on her lower abdomen. "with humans, usually the mother mostly takes care of the child until it can get around on its own and does work in familiar um, home territory, while the father or dad tends to support the family in ways er, often farther afield...making sure his family has food and stuff to survive, I guess. Um, I think, the dad or father is more often seen as the disciplinarian or enforcer and protector of the family." Myri looks sideways at Spivey, "Uh, a family usually being a committed um, mated pair, mother and father, and their children or offspring, um...does that make any sense whatsoever?" Myri looks hopeful, but kind of doubting.
"I guess I was raised kind of um, different..."
<But I will admit that if I had permission, it might help to ... take the pressure off.>
She shrugs. if itworks for youlot, i am nojudge, though.
Rhost nods. "See town tomorrow?"
"It's a date," she answers.
Spivey takes all that in. hm. weird, she says.
She shrugs. if itworks for youlot, i am nojudge, though.
"Umm. How did things work for you? Uh, creation, growing up, that sort of thing. Did you have a family?"
"There's no need to apologize," she answers softly. "And all of that sounds lovely. Let's do just that."
Sense Motive on Shae:
"Okay." A terribly shy smile, eyes filled with myriad emotions.
She appears to once again be attempting to think of a polite way to phrase something, this time most likely if I don't come sometime soon I'm going to put my fist through a wall.
i wasformed eons ago from the pure stuff ofchaos, complete andwhole. veryefficient. notsure what you mean by family.
"So you don't have anyone to learn from? You're just created and sent off immediately? Kinda scary I'd think, a lot of trial and error, no?"
Spivey nods. first century or so canbe tricky. havethe knowledge, but notthe experience.
"Spivey, I think the other are likely to want to move on. I would very much like to continue this conversation when we are in a different setting. Maybe back in Kalsgard. I think you said you do not eat or sleep, is that correct? Then maybe during a long luxurious soaking in a bath...or while traveling with the caravan. Can we spend some more time together? Would that be okay?"
"Spivey, I think the other are likely to want to move on. I would very much like to continue this conversation when we are in a different setting. Maybe back in Kalsgard. I think you said you do not eat or sleep, is that correct?
istrue, she confirms.
Then maybe during a long luxurious soaking in a bath...or while traveling with the caravan. Can we spend some more time together? Would that be okay?"
soundsnifty.