The Mansion

[The_gladiator]

I promised. I promised. I promised.

The words were softly spoken, like a litany. She didn't push him away but nor did she touch him in return. She knew what touch meant to him and she would not give false hope, that would be wrong of her. He would always dwell in her heart but it was time to let go. She would always know where he was. She would always sense him and perhaps in time, a warm friendship would surround them.

She simply waited, breathing deeply.

I promised. I promised. I promised.

"You said that touch didn't have to end with us. Has that now changed too?" he asked softly. His fingertips sliding down the soft skin of her neck before he let his hands rest merely on the back of the chair.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"You said that touch didn't have to end with us. Has that now changed too?" he asked softly. His fingertips sliding down the soft skin of her neck before he let his hands rest merely on the back of the chair.

Her eyes closed tightly as she gripped her hands in her lap. Repeating the words strongly in her mind. Damnation. She was on the brink of breaking that promise.

"Not right now, Glad.. I beg you... please. Don't. Just. Please. Don't."

She squeezed her eyes tighter together. She felt herself becoming one with the wind.

 

[The_gladiator]

Her eyes closed tightly as she gripped her hands in her lap. Repeating the words strongly in her mind. Damnation. She was on the brink of breaking that promise.

"Not right now, Glad.. I beg you... please. Don't. Just. Please. Don't."

She squeezed her eyes tighter together. She felt herself becoming one with the wind.

He lets his hands brush her shoulders softly until she said don't. There it was she had said it. had said the words he would not go against. He was many things, but he was not someone who forced a woman. He withdrew his hands from her. Sadness in his elven eyes and in his posture. She had never turned his touch away never rejected him. But he would not force himself upon her. Many bitter words floated just on the tip of his tongue but he held them in check saying only very softly, "Forgive me. I did not mean to cross any lines, I was only going on things you said to me last night." he said, taking much effort to keep his voice even and not break.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She was awake and up before dawn. A quick shower, a simple task to feel clean and renewed, an even quicker drying off before donning shorts and a tank top. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she drew her hair up into a pony tail, donned her running shoes, her ear buds firmly pressed into place, music turned on and she headed out with a bottle of water. No coffee. Just water.

Leaving the mansion she started to jog, through the garden, into the woods and found herself on a cliff overlooking the ocean. She made her way down to the shore, still running though her pace slowed because of the sand.

She wasn't much for solitary running. Hell, she wasn't much for running period, but since she has been benched from the weight room, this is what she had left to her.

 

[The_gladiator]

He sat on the back patio again. He had watched her go running. He had considered joining her but did not figure she would want the company, so he just watched her. He had done a lot of thinking, realized a lot of things. Overall he just wished he could have his friend back. Wanted this awkwardness between them to be gone. If she wanted to play with others then fine, he could live with that. But this denying the connection they had seemed to be hurting him, her and the friends around them. Why did the things have to be mutually exclusive, why couldn't they have both. As a wise friend had said last night why did there really need to be boundaries between them if they still cared. Why did things need to change, other than the fact taht in this world, manogamy was not really feezeable. He realized that they both had held back for fear of stepping on the other's toes, and yes perhaps it was time to try to branch out and flirt with others, especially when the other wasn't around. Yet they did still have a strong connection. Physical, emotional, call it what you would. He wished they could reconcile this fact, could forge a new agreement or just understanding. He had come to realize that what had upset him was not so much the thought of her with another, but more the loss of their connection, their fire and friendship. Also the way it had opened a few barely healed real life wounds. Once he had realized that, he also realized that Cait had not done that to hurt him. She wasn't the only flirt in their couple, he too had held back, and perhaps it was time for that to change, yet.... he did not want to give up so easily on them either. He just wished he could express this to her. He did not know if he could find the words to make her see. Last night had felt so wrong, the way she had turned his touch away, it had hurt. He longed to go to her and take her in his arms kiss her softly, yet he did not want to push her or be rejected again either... So many things to consider.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

He sat on the back patio again. He had watched her go running. He had considered joining her but did not figure she would want the company, so he just watched her. He had done a lot of thinking, realized a lot of things. Overall he just wished he could have his friend back. Wanted this awkwardness between them to be gone. If she wanted to play with others then fine, he could live with that. But this denying the connection they had seemed to be hurting him, her and the friends around them. Why did the things have to be mutually exclusive, why couldn't they have both. As a wise friend had said last night why did there really need to be boundaries between them if they still cared. Why did things need to change, other than the fact taht in this world, manogamy was not really feezeable. He realized that they both had held back for fear of stepping on the other's toes, and yes perhaps it was time to try to branch out and flirt with others, especially when the other wasn't around. Yet they did still have a strong connection. Physical, emotional, call it what you would. He wished they could reconcile this fact, could forge a new agreement or just understanding. He had come to realize that what had upset him was not so much the thought of her with another, but more the loss of their connection, their fire and friendship. Also the way it had opened a few barely healed real life wounds. Once he had realized that, he also realized that Cait had not done that to hurt him. She wasn't the only flirt in their couple, he too had held back, and perhaps it was time for that to change, yet.... he did not want to give up so easily on them either. He just wished he could express this to her. He did not know if he could find the words to make her see. Last night had felt so wrong, the way she had turned his touch away, it had hurt. He longed to go to her and take her in his arms kiss her softly, yet he did not want to push her or be rejected again either... So many things to consider.

*A note fluttered down from the Cosmos*

Glad,

Come find me when you get this. We should talk.

Cait~

 

[Luna_Wolf72]

Soft footsteps lead me to the front door of Cait's place. I usually do not come here. Hell, there are lots of places I do not go. Not because i don't like people but because I have a hard time reaching out to others. Yet, from inside her own soul hurt, she has reached out to me, countless times...in ways that REALLY matter. So I come strolling, bearing a simple letter on pale parchment.


Cait~
My borrowed strength. I wanted to thank you for holding me together in the only way available to you yesterday. I was too far down to respond but I did feel your willing me to "keep is simple stupid, and quit pushing". I appreciated it then, I appreciate it now.

So with that thought, before bed this morning, I thought of a haiku for you~

Quiet strength believes
in sunrise, sunset painted
the gold of summer.​

You are a soothing summer breeze my Lady...and your grace belies your personal strength. Thank you for sharing yours, once again.

I leave the parchment pinned to her door with a small scrollwork dagger...and fade away.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Soft footsteps lead me to the front door of Cait's place. I usually do not come here. Hell, there are lots of places I do not go. Not because i don't like people but because I have a hard time reaching out to others. Yet, from inside her own soul hurt, she has reached out to me, countless times...in ways that REALLY matter. So I come strolling, bearing a simple letter on pale parchment.


Cait~
My borrowed strength. I wanted to thank you for holding me together in the only way available to you yesterday. I was too far down to respond but I did feel your willing me to "keep is simple stupid, and quit pushing". I appreciated it then, I appreciate it now.

So with that thought, before bed this morning, I thought of a haiku for you~

Quiet strength believes
in sunrise, sunset painted
the gold of summer.​

You are a soothing summer breeze my Lady...and your grace belies your personal strength. Thank you for sharing yours, once again.

I leave the parchment pinned to her door with a small scrollwork dagger...and fade away.

I jogged home after a day spent at the ocean, soaking in serenity and finding balance. The serenity was fleeting, the balance still not there, but soon, I could feel it. I stopped at the door, puzzled. Tugging on the dagger, holding it in my hand, I sense her. Odd. The Lady Wolf never comes knocking.

Taking the parchment, I unfold it and read, nearly choking up again, but this time with a sense of caring, of love. Letting it roll up once more, I carry it and the dagger inside, straight to my study, where I set the dagger on my desk next to Miss Illi's miniature roses. The scroll remains on the desk top briefly. Sitting down I open a desk drawer, pull out a small wooden, hand carved box and inside I place the scroll with the haiku written by the Lady, something that will taken out and read when I need to be reminded that I have worth in this world. Closing the lid, I let my hand rest upon it a moment, a "reaching out" ? A "gentle touch"? Perhaps. With a small smile, I set the box back in its place, closing the drawer. The dagger will sit on my desk because, well, I love bladed things.

From another drawer I take out a small carved box. I have something for the Lady Wolf too. Hopefully it will help and if it does not, it serves to strengthen the connection between us.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

It was still dark out when she strode into the kitchen, flipping on the soft overhead lights. She went straight to the frig and took out a bottle of water, uncapping it. Her head tipped back slightly as she raised the bottle to her lips and drank. She made a face. She didn't mind water but she really wanted coffee first. However, her body wanted hydration. The nightly cramps in her calves were lessening but still. She polished off the bottle of water, moving around the kitchen to collect a coffee mug from the cupboard, pulled sugar-free creamer from the frig and another bottle of water, though she made a face at it. She flinched at the slight pull of the muscles in her right wrist.

Going to have to put that brace on again, damn it.

She poured a cup of the steaming brew, lightened it with the creamer before replacing the latter in the refrigerator. Grabbing the bottle of water in her free hand, she used her elbow to shut off the light before she trod back to her study. Sitting down in her chair, she sipped thoughtfully from her mug. There were several things on her mental agenda for today, but they're all going to wait a while as she had a priority elsewhere. Despite the gloomy weather in her little corner of the world, her day was going to kick off with pleasure and enjoyment, something she so desperately needed after the heaviness of the past couple of days. Her emotions had held by the barest of threads and by the help of a certain lion. Yesterday afternoon had been the start of returning to normal and facing today was very pleasurable indeed.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Slipping in so quietly even she cannot detect me, elf stealth is great! I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around my friend. It begins.*

Cait, you have just been hugged!

That's right, there's no getting out
of it this time!

This is the start of a full-scale
Hug O' War!

So hug everyone you know!

*I needed a hug or two today, on this difficult awful day. And if I can't get one spontaneously, I'll take what I need unmercifully! Runs out grinning.*

 

[DarkWarrioress]

*Slipping in so quietly even she cannot detect me, elf stealth is great! I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around my friend. It begins.*

Cait, you have just been hugged!

That's right, there's no getting out
of it this time!

This is the start of a full-scale
Hug O' War!

So hug everyone you know!

*I needed a hug or two today, on this difficult awful day. And if I can't get one spontaneously, I'll take what I need unmercifully! Runs out grinning.*

Startled out of her thoughts she made a mad grab at the fleeing Elf.

"OH NO YOU DON'T, WOMAN!" her reflexes were honed from fighting, Stealthy as the Elf Woman could be, Cait was faster. Catching Thyri in a bear hug , wrapping her arms tightly around her and squeezing.

"Consider yourself thoroughly hugged, Milady Thyri! And there's more where that came from if you need them.."

Setting her free to bound on her way, Cait chuckled merrily, shaking her head as she took to her chair again. The day was just getting better and better.

 

[Annisthyrienne]

*Snagged before I can make my escape, the hug makes me smile. There will be others to pounce this day. This is only the start of the escalation! I return the hug with genuine feeling. When she lets me go, I head out laughing, in search of more victims.*

Don't forget to pass it on, Cait. It's like a virus, let's make it a pandemic!

 

[The_gladiator]

He stands in her doorway. The note had told him to find her. And so he stood there in the doorway, much as he did a couple days ago. "You summoned me?" he says softly.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

He stands in her doorway. The note had told him to find her. And so he stood there in the doorway, much as he did a couple days ago. "You summoned me?" he says softly.

She swiveled in her chair to face him, having just gotten back from seeing Fr33k.

"I asked to see you, yes." She pointed to the chair on the other side of her desk, "Please, Glad sit down. I want to talk to you without either of us getting overly emotional here."

 

[The_gladiator]

She swiveled in her chair to face him, having just gotten back from seeing Fr33k.

"I asked to see you, yes." She pointed to the chair on the other side of her desk, "Please, Glad sit down. I want to talk to you without either of us getting overly emotional here."

He moves and sits where she said and leans on his elbows, "Alright... I'm listening." he says, his stomach turning slightly.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She picked up and toyed with the dagger Luna left her as she squared her mind to the task at hand, before looking over at him.

"You misunderstood me the other day. I wasn't rejecting your touch. I was trying to tell you that I couldn't deal with this matter between us then. I was on the edge of my emotions that day. There is a connection between us, Glad. It's a connection that is always going to be there. I am not going to deny that. I have never deliberately turned away your touch, I never will BUT it is not as it once was, not on my part anyways," she turned the blade over in her hands, "a friendly hug, a friendly kiss on the cheek, sure. Anything remotely lover like, " she shook her head "not going to happen. Not now and I don't even know if it ever will again. I told you that you have a home here if you want it but that's strictly up to you."

 

[The_gladiator]

She picked up and toyed with the dagger Luna left her as she squared her mind to the task at hand, before looking over at him.

"You misunderstood me the other day. I wasn't rejecting your touch. I was trying to tell you that I couldn't deal with this matter between us then. I was on the edge of my emotions that day. There is a connection between us, Glad. It's a connection that is always going to be there. I am not going to deny that. I have never deliberately turned away your touch, I never will BUT it is not as it once was, not on my part anyways," she turned the blade over in her hands, "a friendly hug, a friendly kiss on the cheek, sure. Anything remotely lover like, " she shook her head "not going to happen. Not now and I don't even know if it ever will again. I told you that you have a home here if you want it but that's strictly up to you."

He looked stunned, That was a complete 180 from things she had said when she broke things off. He didn't really know what to say. "Oh." is all he could say.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

He looked stunned, That was a complete 180 from things she had said when she broke things off. He didn't really know what to say. "Oh." is all he could say.

The muscles in her jaw worked. She didn't say anything. Instead she slammed the tip of the dagger into to the top of the desk. It quivered.

 

[The_gladiator]

The muscles in her jaw worked. She didn't say anything. Instead she slammed the tip of the dagger into to the top of the desk. It quivered.

He jumped at the slam of the dagger. "I am sorry that I have angered you so." he said softly He wanted to go to her, touch her, say the things he couldn't with words with touch, but he just sat there, his respect for her keeping him in place. His respect for her for the moment overwhelming his desire to comfort in the best way he knew how.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

He jumped at the slam of the dagger. "I am sorry that I have angered you so." he said softly He wanted to go to her, touch her, say the things he couldn't with words with touch, but he just sat there, his respect for her keeping him in place. His respect for her for the moment overwhelming his desire to comfort in the best way he knew how.

She turned slowly, setting her palms on the desk, her green eyes on his form. Her voice but a soft whisper between them.

"I think you should go, Glad. You wondering why I can't even be romantically inclined with you. Fine. I didn't want to go there. I wanted to keep him out of this. He has nothing to do with any of this. I told you that a few days ago, told you how I was feeling unsettled and different. Blade just came along after that and I don't want him caught up in all this.What he gives me is something I've been looking for.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Journal Entry

(Removed. Double post for some reason)

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Journal Entry

She left the room, left Glad sitting there and went to go sit on the back porch, laptop and journal in hand. She had posts she really wanted to answer. She wanted to go sit on a dune at the Outlook and regenerate. The way she feeling, she couldn’t do that. If she was going to emote, she was going to do here, in her home and if the little flies on the wall didn’t like it, they could fly away. She was not going to emote all over their realm however. It wasn’t fair to her friends. Setting aside the laptop, unopened for the moment, she pulled her journal across to her, opening it to blank page.

The song floats through the air and ducking her head, begins to scribble.


Why won’t he just let it go? It’s not like I am trying to severe my connection with him. I need some space and time to get my Balance back. I need to get me back. I want that fun loving, flirty woman back. The one that smiles and jokes and flirts almost all the time.

I hate this. I hate hurting him. Even before his birthday rolled around, I was feeling it, out of sorts, like a round peg trying to fit into a square hole. I thought I could power through it, that it was nothing more than just missing him, but that wasn’t it. The more time I had to think, I realized that my time with him was coming to an end. I know it might sound crazy but I have always believed people come into your life for a reason, some for a lifetime, some for a brief span. My time with him, I was coming to understand, was to help him get through a terrible time for him. It has been my pleasure to do so.

No, my change in feelings, had nothing to do with him or him. They were inside of me, roiling around. Yes, there were some things I didn’t expect to change, but he made them change. I feel so many negative things I wish I could write here but I don’t dare to for various of reasons.

Mutual friends have stood by both of us, not accusing, but offering support to us both. For that, I humbly thank them. They are true diamonds. Precious. Appreciated. Cherished.

Then there is the Lion. Someone who has only wanted to see me happy and laughing, knowing it is a very integral part of me. Someone who has wanted to rush in and slay my dragons but hasn't done so because I asked him not to. Someone who has wanted to protect as all good Lions do. Meh, I am lousy at fetching gazelle (inside joke) but I am better at other things.

I don’t want to leave. I like it here. But if I feel cornered I’ll have no choice but to pull up pen and go to another place I have been offered. I’m not there yet. I still feel like there is a lot more in me willing to stay then there is inclination to go. There are too many I would miss. Too many I call friend.

Please, I just want to be light-hearted again.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Plays it because it's a beautiful song and moves her.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

For Miss Luna

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Simply is.