Academy of Drell, Part 5

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte's eyebrow raises ever so slightly as Sildarin apologizes.

Perhaps I was a little too harsh. I'm hungry, I just got up... maybe I should talk to him.

Charlotte watches from where she stands as Sildarin walks to his corner. Her demeaner softens, for a small moment.

Kick him while he's down. If you do, he and his stupid rock will never bother you again...

You, too, Doyle, are a 'rock'. Be careful with your choice of words.

It doesn't matter. Go over there and give him the lecture of his life, that he will never forget.

Well, I'll go over there... though what I will say, I don't know.

Charlotte slowly walks over to Sildarin, thoughts racing through her mind and disappearing as quickly with each heartbeat. She kneels down next to Sildarin, and touches him lightly on the shoulder.

"..." Charlotte is silent for a moment. "Sildarin... your apology is accepted." She says quietly.

She then starts to rise, then decides against it. "And another thing... there is no need to be afraid of your emotions, or your thoughts. Right now, we all depend upon each other. If we hide our thoughts and feelings from each other, then we will get nowhere, as fear and uncertainty overcome us. But if we share what we think, and how we feel, then we will all gain a better understanding of each other... and we will work together better because of it."

She then rises, and returns to her previous position.

Well, he won't be forgetting that anytime soon...

You should've kicked him.

I considered it. But I decided not to... it would have been... cruel, somehow. We all need to work together. We cannot do that if we are divided.

Charlotte then speaks again, louder this time. "This goes for all of us. We were friends in the Academy, but now, we have a greater need to depend upon each other than before. Should we fail in that, then we will fail in survival and finding out what has happened. But, when we come to rely upon each other, and know each other as well as ourselves, then we will be able to go beyond this cave and find out what has happened."

I sound more and more like my father everyday...

And he led you to... him...

Yes, he did. And that is what worries me...

 

[Dalamar]

A weak smile comes upon Sildarin's face and his face returns to its normal, slightly tanned color as Charlotte gives comforting words to him.

Touch her! Touch her! She's right there, within your reach!

And Sildarin's face turns back red and he closes his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts. He opens them and keeps his eyes on Charlotte's, just in case.
"I'm... not afraid... of what I think.. or feel... but... what he thinks..." He indicates the psicrystal resting on his head "he has... an inte... interest in... girls..."
Sildarin shakes his head slightly.
"Me... I'm not... very social... so I... get embarrased... by what he says..."

Ooh! Good tactic! Now she'll feel empathy for you and maybe give you a hug for comfort.
No! That's not what I'm trying to do!
Then it's a nice side bonus I'd say.
Go bug somebody else. And without causing trouble for me.
And would leave you here alone? Come on!
You were going to leave me here alone and follow her...
Ops... Eheh... Forget about that. It... I was just joking! That's right!
Whatever

 

[Argent Silvermage]

[OOC: LYrique. Blissfuly Psi-Crystal free since Decenber 2002]

Lyrique waits while the others get thier acts together. "Charlotte? That was very nice of you."

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte raises an eyebrow as Sildarin explains.

The psicrystal? Hmm...

She glances at the indicated crystal.

"Interesting, that you would be embarassed by the thoughts of an object that reflects a part of you..." Charlotte says. She then walks over to Sildarin. "We cannot hear what it says, only you can. If you cannot control your emotions, then who can?"

What am I saying? I, too, have problems controlling my emotions... I'm too open, though. Sildarin here has the opposite problem...

"Just remember that, Sildarin, and you will be fine. You can control your emotions. Just don't let it get to you."

She then turns to Lyrique, and walks towards him. She then speaks low enough that only he can hear her. "It needed to be done. Do not speak of it again... it was difficult enough to talk to him as it was."

 

[Dalamar]

Object! Object he calls me! The nerve!
Calm down. She did call me a spellcaster before, remember? She's impulsive, like you.
What?! Are you comparing me to that.. that.. flesh bag?!
Why do I even bother?
Because you're just like that, always trying to make everything better.

"A part of me..."
A hint of a sarcastic smile creeps on Sildarin's face.
"A part of me I don't seem to have... magnified tenfold... genuine interest in dealing with others..."
Sildarin sighes deeply.
"wish nothing... of this had happened... I'd just sleep... under the tree... not needing to... to care for others..."

Reality check! Come back, you can't change the reality. Although that would be a nice goal to try reaching...
I'm fine.

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte turns to face Sildarin again, a hint of an ironic smile on her lips. "And what are you doing right now? You are not running away, you are not cowering... you are holding a conversation. An intelligent one that you are contributing to."

Oh, that is so like you, Charlotte. To soften up to those who fear you, who rely on you for strength and look to you for guidance. To try to tear down the walls that your nobility put up.

Shut up, Doyle! I don't need to be reminded of what you think my motives are.

Oh, that's not what I'm doing. And if I were, I'd be silent - after all, your motives are more clouded than Sildarin's attempts to comprehend others. I'm not about to even try to puzzle through your goals and motives...

Silence. Now.

"Sildarin..." She puts her hand on his shoulder. "All of our lives are filled with interaction with others. If we don't talk to others, then we lose out on much of what life has to offer... and besides, I think that this outing may be good for you. I just wish that it didn't need to be the marching of orcs upon Drell to get you out of the hole you're in."

 

[Dalamar]

"And it's probably.. the longest I've ever had... I've lived... over a hundred years... just fine... on my own... why couldn't I just... continue that...?"
Slowly Sildarin places his own hand on the one Charlotte placed on his shoulder.
"Thank you..."

You touched her! You touched her! I saw, I saw! Don't deny it!
I'm not denying it, so stop yelling.
How does it feel? Is it like fine silk? Or sand paper?
Chicken.
What?!
Feels like chicken.
Oh... my.. gosh! You're starting to develop an actual sense of humor! A couple of days more and you'll have to drive girls away from yourself with a stick.
...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte nods. "You could, Sildarin, you could. But why? Why would you want to live in the dark, all alone, talking to no one? You would deny yourself of all that life has to offer."

Charlotte is silent as Sildarin places his hand upon hers. "You're welcome." She says quietly.

 

[Dalamar]

"It... is... so much... easier... no need to worry... of what others think... or do... just yourself..."

Tell her that 'it takes a beautiful lady such as yourself to pull one away from the pit of self-pity'. That's bound to make an impression.

"Slith says... it takes... a beautiful woman... to stop self-pity..."

No! You did it all wrong! You should've said it like you meant it yourself, so that it would've had a great effect on her. Now you screwed it up.
I don't want to 'have a great effect' on her. It just feels good to talk for a chance.
Hrmph. Believe me, there are a lot of things you can do with females that feel better.

Sildarin's face gains some red hue to it, but it is much less than when he usually blushes.

BTW, Gnome, what manga is your avatar from? She looks familiar.

 

[Zhure]

leaving the grotto

Once the group has hashed over their typical morning arguments and disagreements, Palasant thanks everyone for the food for the children and offers to scout out the passage, to make sure it's clear.

He concentrates a few moments as some blue-green lizard scales glow into place over his skin, then fade away. When his form is visible again, Palasant's visage looks more reptilian. With a snapping blink of his eyes, he skitters to the edge of the pool and slips in.

Anyone wishing to join him may do so at this point/