Copacetic Parables

"Why do you watch them so? There are better ways to spend your days."  

"... Do you remember anything from your former life?"

The voice grated at his senses. It was not that it was an altogether unpleasant voice, however it was not the voice he desired.

"Plain. Leave it on the desk." In afterthought he added, "...when you leave tonight, do not return in the morning."

The small gasp of shock from the young woman was barely registered by the older man as he turned back to his reading. 

"Y-yes, mi'lord." She stuttered in response as she set the tray with silver teapot and small, intricately painted porcelain teacup down on the corner of his dark mahogany desk. The gilded silver corners caught her eyes for a moment as they shined brightly in contrast to the highly polished, nearly ebony wood. The silver filigree work at first simply looked like a fancy artistic motif, but as she focused, she could see that it was actually dozens of large and tiny skulls, arranged into swirls that capped the corners of the dark desktop.Why had she never noticed this before? 

"Candice, you may leave now." 

His smooth voice was not sharp but rather to the point, however it still made her jerk in response. 

At least that is what she would have told anyone in her own position asking for advice. She should take her own advice, right? This is what any sane person would be telling her.

The walk through the terminal and to the baggage claims area flew by, and almost too soon, she was staring with wide eyes at the people milling around at the baggage claims. Toni should be one of the people there, waiting for their bags to make their way around the baggage belt from the belly of the plane they took. 

Licking her lips, the nervous hostess started to actively look for the figure who, up until today, was only familiar through pictures and live-cam. 

What if this doesn't work out? I am no way as attractive as Toni is, what if I'm a huge disappointment? What was I even thinking inviting someone here that I only know over the internet? What if I'm wrong about this being love? Maybe I will at least be able to show Toni the sights around the island, make this worth at least a bit of the time-

"Excuse me, Jenny, that is you, right?" 

Quite suddenly, a too-familiar voice interrupts her thoughts in mid-meltdown. There standing not six feet away is a dark-blonde woman with a warm smile and a sparkle to her hazel-green eyes looking directly at her, several matching suitcases sitting on the ground behind her.

After not receiving an answer from the stunned Jennifer, the woman spoke again, this time with a touch of humor and a wry smile. "Oh, you don't have to look so scared, now do you? Am I that much of a monster to look at? Although you do seem to be quite a bit shorter than I thought you'd be..."

Shock wore away to a brief disbelieving frown from Jennifer as she replied with a small snort of amusement.

"Monster? No, and I warned you I was short..." 

Merriment and genuine humor continued to dance in her visitor's eyes. "Ah, that you did... though I feel a tad bit like a giant next to you!" 

A long moment passed unnoticed as they stared at each other, lost in their own thoughts and emotions of the moment. Feeling a drip of water down one finger, Jennifer suddenly became aware of the stems of the flowers she was gripping tightly and broke the silence.

"Ah Toni, flowers for you." She stated simply, lowering her eyes down, feeling a blush burn across her cheeks as she offered the bundle to her guest.

Seemingly unaffected by the silence before, Toni's sparkling eyes move from her shorter host to the flowers with a small gasp, as if seeing them for the first time. "Oh luv, they are gorgeous!" Gently taking the flowers into hand, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, placing her face into the medley of petals. 

Taking the chance, Jennifer quietly watches Toni in quiet astonishment. Her breath seemingly escapes from her lungs, replaced by an inflow of emotion that electrifies her from head to toe. 

"Toni, it is wonderful to finally have you with me... in person." Came a very soft voice that was barely recognizable as her own. 

Toni's eyes open and stare at Jennifer lovingly before she takes a step closer, reaching forward with her free hand to entwine her fingers with the other woman's, gently gripping it. "This is something we both have been looking forward to."

Taking her own hesitant step forward, Jennifer looks back up to watch Toni's eyes as she squeezes the hand. She carefully wraps one arm around the Australian's waist as she sees the affection glowing in her love's eyes. As her nerves settle a little, she notices that Toni's eyes have fine lines around them however, showing how tiring the twelve hour flight had been for her.

"Let me get you home first so you can rest while I cook, then we can go to the beach or something, whatever you want." The smaller woman offers. In response, the taller one slowly wraps both of her tanned arms around Jennifer's torso, and gives a long sigh. 

"I just want to hold you and feel how real you are right now." Toni speaks quietly, holding her face to the side of Jennifer's neck. 

It had been a trying experience for everyone involved, with some rather telling looks from Ausra when he refused to heal himself before her and the Lady Muteki. Hopefully it might mend some of the ill will that had come up between the households of Blackburn and Muteki, however. Alexander was quite loved by the family, but it was due to Ausra's help that their own mother and wife was returned to health. 

As for their life at home, he did not allow her to remain alone for too long. She did not refused his suggestion that they share a bed, but more often than not, he simply held her as they slept, telling her he was satisfied with holding her, unless she wished to share in more. It was rare, but she did from time to time reach for him, or straddle him without explanation, needing to either reassure him or herself, whatever the situation might be.  

As peaceful as things may have seemed, they were not at all like it was before Ausra's mind broke and she led Alex on the journey that would eventually cause his death. 

Since that time, they had been concentrating on finding the cure. Now that it had been found for themselves they focused more on how the plague was made up, rather than cure the effects it caused on living beings. 

Ausra seemed deeply interested in finding the person responsible, although she would never admit to it outwardly. Her manner however suggested that she believed this person might hold the key to something she deeply desires; something that has eluded her for some time now. 

As he cradled her in his arms each night, he wondered if she would chase after this mad person to stop them, or to use them... perhaps both.

I believe in you, and wish the best for you. I am glad to have known you for as long as I have, and will cherish the times we shared. I have always been in awe of your passion, and even more now since your passion is towards yourself and doing something for yourself, especially since it is the hardest thing you have had to actually reach out and try to do. 

I love you. I know you can do this, just as I know you don't need to lean back on anyone to get what you want, but if you ever do want to reach over  to give and receive a hug, there will be people there for you, including me.

Your friend and fan alike,

He held her afterwards, stroking her skin gently as he closed his eyes. Before they started, she had asked about his relationship with Laylanor. He answered as best he could that his relationship with her was quite different. What he did not explain was that his relationship with the lovely sylvari was a great deal more equally considerate, caring, and emotionally stable than his relationship with Ausra. 

He also did not mention that while Laylanor seemed to understand and appreciate his emotions, Ausra and he more or less understood each other on an eerie level that he had never felt with anyone else. 

With a long sigh, he nuzzled her neck gently as he spoke softly through his mask. 

"Rest now, then we can throw ourselves into our work; lose ourselves into that."

He waited until she seemed to be sleeping, then slipped out of the bed to return to his room to change his mask, slipping on a simple silk robe to walk in. He would return to see if she was sleeping, and if not, he would slip back into bed with her until she did sleep. 

He had nearly forgot what true kindness was like. 

Promise me you will stay close to me.

She had promised, and she would keep her promise. 

"You are the only one..."

Her voice, her promise, and affirmation that he was her only one filled him with such warmth that it nearly burned in the icy coldness that had been settling over him.

Ausra was one you had to be cold with; she knew about using emotions against people. Not that she seemed particularly skilled at it other than using lust... but she knew how to tell when people were attached to her in useful ways, it seemed. 

Laylanor was a breath of fresh air and comfort after weeks of fire and ice. 

His own mother, (the only other person he felt so much care equally with) was a calm woman who used her elemental powers to help immediate family and friends, never pushing to become stronger, just more useful. His warrior father could help her with some of elemental magics she used by using his own natural talent, but he refused to develop his own magics in that area, preferring to handling things with his mace and shield, or large hammer. 

Together they shared a bond of love that complimented each other, helping each other grow stronger. Even when their son was quite young, he could see her challenging his father even as she admired him, and his father being her hero while respecting her ability to kick his own rump when his anger got the best of him. 

What would they think of him and how he handled Ausra?  Did they know the true history of the family? 

Not that they would have understood how such information would affect him, how he would take the information to strengthen his own powers and work to his own goals. How could they have known just how much of Viskis's blood was in him? Even if he was not a necromancer, his magical skill seemed so easy to build and control, flowing in him effortlessly. The elements did not resist him in any way; nearly leaping at the chance to fill his desires. 

And now... he had the means to fulfill his purpose. To cure the incurable, to make a mark in history that would be long remembered after his name was forgotten. 

Sing for Me

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