Box of Ice
Log Info
- Title: Ice Box
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Kira, Faranmidahn,
- Place: A10: Temple of Althea
- Time: Friday, June 12, 2020, 2:34 PM, Friday, June 12, 2020, 9:29 PM, Saturday, June 13, 2020, 10:31 AM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is isolating herself using the Mage's Magical Mansion so Salina can't scry on her, and is visited by her friend and human kin, Kira arrives. This time the mansion has been configured as an ice dragon lair, with everything on a large scale, although the 'ice' is glass. They talk about things, and hang out near the illusiory entrance to watch the arctic scene unfold. Cryo discusses the letter she received from Zeke, and lets Kira read it, asking for her interpretation. She wonders about her relationship, and whether it serves Salina even if her feelings are genuine. Faran arrives, and Cryo catches her up on the events with Yukia that drove her to self-isolate. Finally she asks the others to share memories, her bad ones so they can adviser and some good ones of theirs to give her hope and persepective. Also, to eliminate the temptation of the Share Memory Scrolls. They do, her perspective of the argument is seen, while Kira shares happy memories of her time with Cryo, to improve her self esteme. Faran, shares the vows that made her a knight. Both of these give the sith a better appreciation for others, their perspectives of her, and the things that guide them in life. She ends by taking them to look at the strangeness of the ice lair. After, she pens a letter that breaks her heart.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Kira 5'0" 120 Lb Human Female Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch. Faranmidahn 3'3" 35 Lb Halfling Female Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
At the Temple of Althea
In the small private room set aside for Cryosanthia, inside is a Mage's Magic Mansion, courtesy of Mikilos, that the white sith seems to be pushing the limits of. Today it is an Ice Lair, although the ice is formed from glass. The glass is thick and smooth enough, that all cavernous features, the walls, stalagmites, stalactites, are safe to touch. Although it would be prudent not to sit on a stalagmite. The glass is both transparent, translucent and frosted, some walls are clear until the vanish is glacial obscurity. Other aspects like the ceiling and floors are frosted, bubbles within the glass, mimicing densly packed snow.
The entrance to the cavern is behind a wall outcropping that is frosted, but there is a fake 'real' entrance that is sized for a large dragon, which features a ledge. A wall beyond that, just out of reach, has an illusion of a vast arctic landscape, with frozen oceans, pack ice, icebergs, a glacier progressing down mountains, and in the distance a white tower. A tower she can't escape, but one still far away.
Inside, it's open with a curved ramp going up around the edges. The banquet is laid out on the main floor, and there are alcoves with furs and other things to sit on. It's warm, considering the appearnce.
Cryosanthia is at the door to welcome Kira, pulling her in. She seems troubled, a little cooler than her surroundings. She's wearing her fuzzy wizard gear, robes of deep velure with fur ruff trim. It matches the current colour pallet of whites and pale pastel blues. Unlike before, it doesn't have symbols, hers or Salina's, but has abstract straight line and anged shapes as patterns. "Kira! Peace on your nest, thanks for coming."
Kira admires the change in decor. It may look 'chilly,' but it's not surprising given the hostess. She's a bit surprised to be greeted at the entrance and smiles even as she blinks with the assisted entry. "Peace on your nest, Cryo. It's a very lovely one, too.." She is mindful of Cryo's temperature... and the sight of the distant tower, even if it's just a general, vague set piece... well, she can't help her thoughts going places. She diverts them back. "You're welcome. I enjoy being here, with you."
Cryo smiles, waving around, "There is not as much acrobatics in this one, one can walk to all places. There is a pool too, hot, for soaking. I dreamt of it last night, all but the pool."
The surroundings do seem both surprisingly natural and a little dreamlike, as if a sleep memory of a real place. All the areas seem scaled on a draconic level, even the nooks are large enough one could curl up in it, like a box, or use as a display case, which some have. There is a section of weapons and shields, a surprising number of baradiches, and armours, that again look like they are representative of some nation, or perhaps nations, blurred together. Best viewed out of the corner of the eye, than directly examined.
The whitescale bites her lip, "So. This one received a letter from Zeke, and determined there is not enough space to pace." It seems like there is, so she must have wanted to walk a lot. "Your duties, went well today? Did you make bread?"
"Oh!" Kira perks at the mention of a letter. Positively, despite her first delivery of his words having a less-than-desired yet not-unexpected reaction. "That is good, yes?" A pause before she is less certain since pacing is mentioned and she nods to answer the question. "My duties went well. Yes, I helped back bread this morning, though I didn't have any to bring. I'm sorry."
Cryosanthia exhales, and her breath is visible. Her tail stays close to her legs as it seems lost in her robes. "This one would have you read it before I give my impression. Perhaps, share those memories of the encounter. This one no longer trusts her perceptions... and it does not make me warm or cold in a way I enjoy."
She moves a little, "Come look at the view? It moves, a little."
Kira exhales a light sigh of regret; not at Cryo, but that things didn't go better. She supposes, though, that uncertainty is better than certainly negative. "I'd be happy to help. You don't have to share anything you don't wish to, though, of course..." She follows,lightly lifting a hand for her shoulder along the way.
Cryo leans into the hand on her shoulder, and leads to the 'real' entrance. It's deceptively well done, the ledge does appear to have a sudden drop off, only accessible by fliers or the best mountaineers. The vista is white, with a blue sky and an alien seeming sun. Instead of a fixed ball, it's diffuse with a halo, the light affected by the cold, thin atmosphere. Waves of snowflakes blow across the tundra, and the pack ice bobs in place, making groaning sounds. It seems real, but can't be.
Cryo crouches down, "They have a pattern they move in, it takes about an hour and they get back to where they started. You can pretend it's real, a wind would make it perfect."
The white sith takes a letter out of her robe, holds it towards Kira without looking at it. "It's in Draconic. I can translate anything you have difficulty with."
Kira gasps as they step into the 'real' portion and she witnesses the vista. "It's beautiful... The magic here is wondrous..." she gives the shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "You are also a wonderful artist..."
She accepts the letter with an assuring smile, even if Cryo doesn't look to it. Taking it carefully, she starts to read it. Not aloud, per se, though she does sound out a word or two here and there to help with her own reading. Most may even be pronounced right... at least as best as her non-draconic nature allows.
"Thanks," Cryosanthia says, sitting on the ledge and staring out, watching the snow and listening to the distant growling of the ice. She can follow Kira's progress through the letter by the words she's sounding out. She's read it several times, so the words make good markers. She exhales deeply, staring into the distance.
Kira nods, perhaps to herself more than anything as she finishes mostly not-stumbling through it. "He is concerned for you and didn't mean you upset. I believe that. I ... don't know about what he speaks with Seldan, other than what Seldan told me... and I don't know how much to trust his words..." Which isn't a pleasing though, judging by her tone.
The white sith nods, staring out at the frozen landscape still. She's leaning forward, resting her arms on her knees, feet and tail dangling down the edge of the ridge. "I see he is concerned. He seemed more concerned about Seldan's feelings, than mine, that I should understand in great detail what I said is wrong."
Cryo shrugs, "Perhaps I an innurred, having lived with an evil being, everyone I know having a demonic pact it seems. Ezil, almost you, Halani, Darius, Hun'rar, almost Acedia. Ezil had his within two minutes of speaking to a demon, they seem easy enough to come by, like something one gets when picking up the milk. Perhaps if the Demon hadn't appeared weekly in my life, I would consider summoning them a serious thing, it seems it will just happen regardless."
"But no, I understand it is evil, and his position is to make that without thinking at all is evil. I don't care. Summoning Salina for a trap is not evil but summoning the demon is, right."
Kira's lips purse. "I know that he... " She stops and sighs. "No, it isn't right for me to try and speak for him, or share what I believe to you as truth... I don't believe he abandons you, or places you after others. Not from his words, or the letter, but from his deeds. It is what you believe, though, that matters."
"I suppose..." Cryo doesn't sound uplifted, "He says I knew where he was going. How I was supposed to follow after Malik and Sir Seldan drew on me, then teleported? He told kin? None have told me. Faran knows, perhaps? I have not seen her in a while. He seemed uninterested until your words made him send a letter."
She turns her head, stares at the distant icebergs. "A letter finds me, he does not. What I believe..."
The portal to the world beyond creaks open tenatively, the edge of the door half wrapped with tiny laceclade fingers before an ivory haystack edges just fare enough to blink a rose eye in surprise at the decor, "Hel-LOOOOoooooo!" she calls, momentarily forgetting that most of her is still within Eluna's temple for the expanse that greets her eyes. Thankfully, Faran has her daylight abjurations upon her.
Kira's hand finds Cryo's shoulder again, wanting to offer comfort. Always, of course. "He tries to heal himself, too. He could have assumed all was well with you, until I spoke with him. That doesn't mean he doesn't care, Cryo."
She is considering more to say when Faran calls out. Kira turns towards to call back. "Hello! We are here." Surprising answer, of course.
The white sith pets Kira's hand, then stands and runs down the incline to greet Faran and pull her into the cavern. It is an immense ice cavern, with clear and frosted ice. It looks like it should be freezing, but isn't, because the ice is in actuality glass. The whole place has a dreamlike quality to it, and a 'real' entrance where Kira is, that is an ice ledge on an ice berg, overlooking an arctic landscape. The landscape is a wall with a fine illusion, but still convincingly arranged. There are large alcoves.
She bends to scoup up the lucht! "I'm happy to see you! Come watch the ice move. I'm talking with Kira. Tell this one, have you heard from Zeke?"
Faranmidahn gies Kira a little wave as she catches sight of the woman, though as she takes in a breath to call a reply apparantly she hears something. The Lucht half draws out of the door as she lets it open ahead of her, looking abashed to someone down the hallway the door and calling out a contrite, "Sor-eeeep!" as she's scooped up in her sister's embrace. She giggles a little and hugs Cryo fondly with a little kiss, "I missed-" she cocks her head slightly, "Zeke? No, not for a while." and she grows concerned, "Did something happen?"
Kira follows after Cryo, returning Faran's wave with one of her own, along with a smile. One that grows as the lucht is enscooped. She leaves the question to the sith, though.
"The Mistake sent Yukia after me. She was nearly defeated, but escaped as someone in the crowd was helping her." Cryo says flatly, her breath becoming visible as she turns and leads back to the ledge with the view. "After, Malik and Seldan questionned my judgement. Zeke left with them. It was why I decided to leave Alexandria, bite off my hand. You remember. I have been here since. Zeke did not come but sent a letter, said he had been contacting my friends, kin, but I got only the letter. You can see if you wish, oh, it's in Draconic, I'll have to read it for you."
Faranmidahn blinks to Cryo's explaination, "I haven't heard anything, Cryo. I'd have said something." she says softly. She gives a little sigh, "Unless some page failed to deliver the message, which I'd want to say is impossible." There's another shake of her head. She's sympathetic, but a little angry at how this is all going, and there's a little storminess in her eyes, "So much for Yucky getting absorbed.... how, how are you, sister... have you been ok, here...?" She glances at Kira to see how she's taking all this.
There is an emphasis on the word, 'want'.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't keep her," Kira seems a little weary, more than a little guilty, and worried above all. "I did offer to deliver any words he wanted to share, if he couldn't come himself... but I haven't seen him since then." Whether she's explaining for Cryosanthia or Faran isn't clear. She can't speak for Cryo's comfort, but does note, "She's made everything here quite lovely."
"Well, if I must stay in a limited place, I want to push it as much as I can." Cryo says, standing in the cavern entrance and looking out on the vista. She takes her seat on the edge of the ledge again. "I've been... better. The pool helps. I've strained my lungs for the hour today. I might try sleeping in it sometime, I've heard that is possible."
Another exhale, "Writen words are still words. Just... less personal. Do you have your memory scrolls Faran? I was going to show Kira, mine might not be enough. It feels indulgent, but they have made me mistrust my thoughts so much it seems the only way. Do you think my insanity would spread if I shared them?"
Faranmidahn looks to Kira with a, "Kira, you did what you could... I can only imagine how hard it was to stay such a monster, let alone if she had an accomplice." and a sad, supportive smile. Her attention turns back to Cryo and, "Yes, I do, I... I haven't known what to do with them since Zeke..." Sigh, "But... Verna didn't get any madness from either of us, I don't think when she used the spell. She got our memories, but I think it's only a minute's worth so she'll have to deal with the emotions at the moment, too, but if she goes in knowing, she should be ok." Yeah, that was a lesson to learn...
Kira nods to Faran, but her focus turns back to Cryo. "I don't think you're insane, or that I'd get anything from you except what you want to share. I'm happy to accept that, and to share anything you might want?" While Cryo wants to share with her, that still makes her feel more one-directional and she's here to help her sister, afterall.
Cryo makes a grimmace smile, "Kira lost a lot of blood. She was tremendous. I have excised feeling guilty for that, but..." She reaches into her pack, which is tucked out of sight nearby, and withdraws a bunch of scroll cases tied together. "Funny that these were to bring my mate back and now I wonder if he ever was at all. You will see, and I hope my feelings are not strange to softskin bodies..."
"If you have something nice to give in counterpart that would be enjoyable. Taking your vows, finding Torrent, whatever you might think." She stares wistfully out at the windblown waves.
The Lucht makes her way over to gently hug Kira and a little smile, "Thank you for that, Kira." She clears her throat a moment, "I'm.... still working on Mother." she assures her, then turns to look at Cryo as she muses on the scrolls, "I've never seen someone else's memories before... I kinda wanted to, but..." She thinks back to some of the times suggested... times when He was there. She surrepitously brings a knuckle up to one of her eyes, then, "I can do that." Almost absently, she withdraws her scrolls from one of her belt pouches...
Kira returns the lucht's hug. Her smile firms a little, but doesn't exactly dim. "She needs time and ... normal?" Is it that she's not sure that it's needed or that she's not sure that is still a thing? "We all do. I haven't, either, but..." she turns to and assures Cryo, "feelings are feelings. I don't think they are so different whether someone has scales, skin, claws, or hooves."
Scrolls are easy enough to read, and Cryo and Faran have had experience with the spell, so that part goes smoothly. The whitescale sith concentrates on the time and the memories, and they subject experiences them as if they lived them.
Cryo's sensory package is quite different from human and lucht, and while she's used to it there is a flood of information, as well as some lacking. Skin sensations, for the most part, under her thick hide she feels only bumps and itches. Her eyes see a lot more spectrum and her sense of smell overwhelms with detail.
She's alert, anxious. She's just been attacked, her friend, her sister, lies bloody in her bed from fighting a demon. Zeke, her comfort and strength, calls her to see Seldan, whom she trusts. She follows eager to speak to him, has wanted to for days. What follows is an interrogation that feels like a second attack, bewildered and confused she answers Malik, Seldan, and seemingly even Zeke has joined in. Every statement seems deliberately misinterpreted. She tries to explain Verna's sacrifice and that is thrown back at her. Finally a passing idea about trapping Eclavdran is used to accuse her of wanting to damn Seldan's soul. Utterly stunned, they talk of leaving and she wants to them to go, so she can talk with Zeke about what's going on. Seldan seemed so unlike himself she wondered if he was possessed, or Malik in some demonic pact. Then, they take Zeke and go.
It was so unexpected she was stunned. She assumed Zeke would come with her. His scents of fear and worry, looking at her, his casualness touching Seldan. She's wanted his comforting touch for decades, and there she sees, he touches him, not her. Her mind is about to explode when an icyness descends, locking it all in place. Feel nothing and go to sleep.
The majority of the experience is for Kira, she hears exactly what was said, felt by Cryo. Faran catches only the tail end, where Malik and Seldan draw on her and Zeke intervenes, but still sides with them. Both, know the depths of abandonment she felt. It explains her actions the following day quiet well.
The Lucht takes to the secondhand experience with a gasping stagger and a hand snapping to her sword as her eyes flash open. She shakes her head like she was punched, "No, 'Zephyr,' I'm fine..." A sigh and she releases her hilt to gently palm her face, "Son of a bitch!" she hisses angrilly. Another headshake, then, 'After what he said to -me-....!' Sigh, as she processes the rest, pulling back from herself, 'Cryo, honey...' and she steps in to hug her. There are a couple of sworn allies that are about to have The Talk. <halfling>
Kira had ...some idea of what to expect. She's also oddly thick-skinned, figuratively, for herself, yet horrendously empathic of others. Of course, it's not -her- emotions that she experiences. Anxious worry is not strange to her, nor is eager hope.
The sudden inversion, expected or not, is more than slightly overwhelming. Cryo might be able to tell precisely where she is in experiencing it by her expression which telegraphs far more than the sith would, herself. Not unlike following her reading by words uttered here and there.
When she does crumple at the end, there are tears sliding down one cheek. Her face goes neutral for a moment after before she's left blinking and trying to refocus and re-orient.
The whitescale hugs the little lucht, then seeing Kira's reactions, her expressions changing, her tears, bring her into it as well. She holds on to both tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to see that, I'd hoped for something... more congratulatory. At least they asked after Kira before starting in. I got angry, I thought I was warning Seldan about the danger Malik was in, and it turned out to be a Demon's joke. I should have had my centre but how easily the Miss Twinkletoes hooks my mind rattled me. I fail as a Speaker too. And then..."
She exhales heavily, her pupils are wider and she feels cold even through her thick velvety robes, "then they left, and don't seem to understand or care what that meant to me. Zeke says don't feel abandonned, when that's what I felt. If you had not cared I would be gone, handless. Thank you, for stopping me in my desperation."
Faranmidahn turns to see Kira as she's gottan a lot more of the experience it seems, and opens her embrace for the sentinel as well, "Easy, Kira... it's confusing at first.... The embrace, focus on that, feel it.... the sensation..." Her words are gentle, bereft of her previous reticence as she tries to coach her back from the external emotions, "Slow breath.... easy..." She scratches at Cryo's scales even as she speaks and remarks, "I'll see if I can find a spell to protect you, honey..." She trails off at the talk of her hand and she swallows, and, even as she feels her eyes reflexively seek the floor, she closes them, trying to hide her personal shame on that score.
Hugs. Kira's experiences seem to simmer down to those so often. She leans into the one and returns in with a squeeze. One nice thing about hugs: they work both ways. Returned to the here, now, and her own thoughts, she sniffs once. "Whatever else happens, you'll never be alone, nor abandoned..."
With that quiet assurance, Kira tries to return the favor, albeit as promised. Whether its from the many scrolls, many memories, or that Kira finds pleasures in simple things, the return is several, short sequences... and all of them involve Cryosanthia.
Upon Daeus' steps talking of men... or, rather, the all-knowing curious Cryo -insisting- on details and offering advice, prodding Kira from her bashfulness and uncertainty. And, of course, the amusing tri-lobed heart frost prints on the stone.
Dancing (clumsily in Kira's case) and laughing with Cryosanthia and the Wee Folk, at least the portion they were allowed to recall, with Cryo singing a subsequently forbidden song; free of cares and worries.
Swimming with her in the pool; hardly a new thing for Cryo, but the water was much more brisk, comparatively. Not to mention feeling that much more weightless and free as one who doesn't live in the water so much. And wet hair sticking down or staying sodden.
"Oh my scales! Hair! That's what hair feels like!" Cryo is loud and gleeful, her mouth a wide grin. She shakes her head as if she can still feel it. "Ha! It is so strange, like a dead tail, and a whisk, and fingers on scales."
Because she appreciated Faran's gentle stroking, the light touch against her. Her eyes lid, and she looks askance, "I see I must be careful where I sit, it was quite impressive. We shall dance more, I will get a dance floor in here soon."
The whitescale hugs tight, holding both, "Your clothes rub against you all the time, is that not distracting?"
Loosing a little, she nods to Faran, "I have a spell that would, but I could not get it off fast enough. And I am glad you enjoyed swimming Kira, I am pleased."
Faranmidahn is a little slow to smile at that, and she tries to push her baggage back where it belongs before it gets too legible to the others. Show them light, they've gotten enough darkness, they don't need hers. She sighs and nods, "You get used to it, unless you're wearing something new. Some clothes actually feel.... -amazing-, I love silk!" Happysigh, then, "Are you ready... for mine?"
Kira straightens up, releasing the embrace. Mostly. She nods to Cryo. "I do enjoy it. I think I'd forgotten how much until I had the opportunity... I'm used to clothes. It's not wearing them that feels odd, for me." Not surprisingly, her cheeks pinken a littlem, but no glaring red, this time. Possibly because she gets diverted to Faran. "Silk? It's been a long time since I've worn anything that ... lavish."
The whitescale sith looks thoughtful, concentrates, her velvet robes switch to silk, the fabric becoming a lot more light, and creasing all over her. She waves her arms about, "Hmmm... I can't feel anything all all, only the weight of the ruffs. So, the enjoyment is it feels like wearing nothing?" She touches a fold, and rubs it over her scales. "I am ready for your memories Faran, whenever you are, take your time and let me know."
The lucht bows her head, "I'm concentrating on one. I'll need a moment."
Cryo nods at Kira, "I'm used to wearing armour for days. Clothes are, more functional. You should get a set of these sleeves, they are tremendously expensive for clothes but they are the last you'll buy. Although Anti-Magic fields are a surprisingly frequent hazard." Her tail swishes.
Kira watches the transformation with some awe. While she's seen this before, it was more utilitarian than for comfort or aesthetics. Speaking of which, she looks down at her own clothing. "I don't think I need anything so ...extravagant. My robes are those of The Healer, and the rest don't need to offer any special appearance or protection. If I did need something different, I could change into something else." After a pause, she clarifies with a grin, "The non-magical way, that is."
Cryo grins and wobbles her head, doing a small seated sort of dance. "They were what I had in the Tower, they didn't always work in the basement. Merek made them for me. It was nice to have a reminder of friends, to look at his mark. It was because Braelnoir, when she was a chimera, she had paws for hands and couldn't put her clothes on. So he made a set for her and this one bought some too. I used it to make the silliest things. Poc the Goblin was there and very amused. Oh that was a happier Fernwood memory. They don't tear and they clean whenever they are changed. Did I show you the crawling lizard?"
Kira nods simply to the mention of the Tower, though her smile warms after with the note of friends, reminders, and utility. "They look lovely and seem very useful..." a more energetic nod, "Yes, you showed me the lizard. Out by the fountain, I think?" Such an interestingly mixed landmark, now. "I think clothes like that would be ... wasted on me. My needs are very simple, and I don't mind washing or mending clothes. Others could make much better use of them, or with the coin that would be spent on them."
"That is true. I suppose as an adventurer I am used to have more than the average." Cryosanthia admits. She crosses her legs and tucks her ankles in, pulling her tail into her lap. She takes the tip of it in both hands, lightly wrings it while gazing 'outside' at the frozen landscape. "Did you share all your thoughts on the letter? Mine... remain unsettled."
Kira may have more thoughts as she quiets to think, and settles down to sit, herself. She takes another moment before she speaks. "My thoughts are .. ever hopeful. I want to share how his words are encouraging and concerned, and how they're intended, but I can't speak to his intent, only what I think it was. I don't think that he would intend to leave or abandon you, but that doesn't mean he didn't make you feel that way..."
She pauses again, face scrunched in thought before she looks to her sister, smile now soft. Tentative? "I think that you should share with him how you feel... but no about what he, or Seldan, or anyone else did... How you feel about -him-, as a sum of everything. I know the pain is very fresh, but try not to focus on that and on everything else? For now."
A sigh. "I fear Seldan and I have fallen into that circle. I dislike what he has done, and he dislikes that I question it, but I do not disike -him- and he says that he has no quarrel with me. Still, whenever we attempt to speak, it seems the conversation slides to fall into that circle and can't escape. It is fresh and raw, but it is really only a small part of all that we've experienced together.
Cryosanthia nods, listening carefully then mulling over the words. She seems to end up deep in thought, not moving, not even twisting her tailtip, sitting still and staring. She becomes almost statuesque, and it's this lack of movement that brings her reptilian nature to the surface. She breathes, air flowing through nostrils, and with her eyes that barely move in their sockets and rarely blink, she seems like a beast, unthinking. Although she clearly is.
Finally, words, "I see he did not intend to make me feel the way he did, though it is something I also think I should not have to explain. Like, I should not have to explain to Malik and Seldan why they owe apologies. I should apologize to them, yes. I know why. I did not need him to explain, it was shouted well enough by Seldan the first time. That I don't feel like apologizing right now is another matter. He seemed more concerned about his softskin kin, than this one. This one could go into detail..."
She sighs, and stares off into the illusionary distance. She points, "See? The loop has started again, that little small piece of pack ice will get pushed under soon, and not re-appear again."
She wrings her tail some more. "Malik made my haversack, and I greatly enjoy it. His company was fine, until he took too attacking me and everyone dismissing it as just his way. I cannot correlate his work with him. Perhaps it is his Demon pact, or something unexplained happened in the Tower, this one does not know..."
Cryo shrugs, "So this one is to beg forgiveness, admit fault again, swallow words that are distasteful even if true? Not trust instincts, not trust thoughts, surrender to the control of a different master, yet again? Disobey She, yet obey these. No tempering of their words. I should accept Zeke, all, as correct. The conclusions I draw from that are dark. I would be better dead. They would be better without me. I can speak that conclusion based on their truth."
Kira blinks and her smile falls to a minimum. A concerned minimum as she looks to Cryo to meet her gaze even while reaching for a shoulder. Both her shoulders this time, in fact. To attempt a steadying hold as much as comfort.
"No, sister, none would ever be better without you, even if they dared think it. You don't need to explain or apologize for anything you don't think you should. You don't serve anyone; you are not here to please or accept anyone unless you want to.
"Trust yourself, Cryosanthia. I trust you. I only asked that you try not to judge on one thing, but as a whole. If there is enough for you to want to mend things with someone, then I hope you do so. If not, then -you- would be better off without that someone in that way."
Cryo leans into the shoulder contact, lets herself be held. She stretches out a toe, pointing at the ice fields, then stretches her foot a little further until it touches the wall. "This is all very pretty, but it's an illusion. I wonder what else in my life is a pretty illusion. They opened a crack and poured doubt in. Sometimes, you need your mate to defend you even when you're wrong, you know? I thought Zeke would know that. He didn't even notice I was gone. When they say I am bad for him, and he can touch them and not me... perhaps that's a sign I ignore at my peril."
She rolls over, lies on her belly on the edge of the ledge, stretches her arms out. Twists her head over to look up, "I enjoyed your memories. They were fun. Shall I try to leave a try-heart on the wall?"
Kira loosens her hold to readily let Cryo move and lie how she wants, though neither Kira nor her attempts at assuring contact never leave otherwise. She sighs with a mix of weary and wistful. "Suffering and doubt are Her tools. It is worse for you, as She affected those closest to you. I'm sorry for that."
The remark of memories and .. tailprints provokes a new grin and a bit of chuckle. "I'm glad you enjoyed the memories. I wish that I had more ... remarkable or amazing ones to share, but they are happy ones." With a hand now on the back of Cryo's shoulder, she idly runs fingers over the scales there. Not unlike Faran did before, maybe. "This is your place for the moment, so you can leave prints wherever you like?"
Cryo's scales have a curious texture, they ought to feel leathery but are so thick and dense they feel like a flexible metal. Lead perhaps, something that turns white. Her body moves under the touch, muscles, her breathing. She feels alive even if there is a coolness to her. Very snakey, very clean. "I shall think on leaving a mark. Lying here feels nice. Your touch is nice, thank you."
Hugs, contact, these are important to her. She can endure without but it is the difference between breathing water and breathing air. "I think... egotistical things. That perhaps I am special to her. That perhaps, as she told Kol, the demons, her vampires will not hurt me." The whitescale sith pauses a moment, "Well, not kill me. That they would only take me back, as her successful experiment, her Beloved Pet. Though this is not a thing I desire to be, the status... is flattering? And useless. I could not use it to get close to her, as she would spin my mind in a second, as she always does. I think though, she does not care, I'm a tool to weaken others, useful in that sense but not on my own."
Kira has always been a hands-on person, which, of course, includes hugs. She also knows very well how Cryo is feeling isolated, so it just fits? "You -are- special, but because of you, not Her. I don't think anyone is really special, to Her. Not in the way anyone would want to be. She doesn't care... and I think we shouldn't care about Her. Not in any way that gives Her power over us." Something more easily said than done, and Kira knows that, too, unfortunately.
"Are there any other memories you would like? I don't mind sharing them in... the old-fashioned way, either." It's not as direct as magic, but there's nothig wrong with conversation.
"Hmmmmmm..." Cryosanthia says, partly thrumming in her throat as she lies relaxed, "What made you start baking bread, you make a lot of it. What was your first loaf, and what is your favourite kind to make?"
Her legs and tail hang over the edge, but her tail wags as she asks.
Kira notes the tail out of the corner of her eye, but tries not to get too distracted... or be rude and stare. It's heartening, though. A sign of better moods. Also... adorable? Not in any demeaning way, of course. "Well..." she turns her head and eyes further toward Cryo's head, "there are many people to feed, so the temple makes a great deal of bread. It is easy, hearty, and inexpensive, so that we can help as many as possible."
"I've only ever made bread there," she admits, now somewhat sheepishly, "and we only make the one recipe. I've helped with some of the stew, also, but I'm not really much of a cook. I did make dinner for Darius and Aika, once... They were very appreciative... but it was the same stew I've made for hundreds." Her tone suggests it is a fond memory, if now a bit bittersweet in context.
Cryo nods as best she can for someone stretched out on the ground. Mostly she rocks her head enough her horns move. "This one can make survival food, but it is rarely worth sharing. So the single Temple recipe, no others? No experiments at home? Stew is nice as well. Sometimes it is better to be good at a couple things than mediocre at most."
"I wonder what would happen if things were cooked in here, with half ingredients from here and half brought in. What would happen to the loaves when removed? Would they become like that cheese full of holes? Get partially lighter? I doubt they would disappear completely nor remain fully whole. I should find a way to get Tanith in, this place is always full of fish for her but she never arrives. This one is glad you had a good dinner memory with Darius and Aika, it sounded very positive."
"The temple is my home," Kira notes. "I've added a few spices or ingredients to my own bowl or plate, but no experiments beyond that." She lets out a little chuckle. "I'm sorry. That must be terribly boring and dull compared to your creativity... I think Tanith would love it here, but she seems like she would be one to flight about everywhere, to see -everything-..."
She exhales another sigh and pats the sith's neck lightly. "It was. I miss them. She is a delight, and he... He was very concerned and cross with me at the market. It was frustrating, and nice. While I very much want him to be safe, for himself and Aika, for a time, I thought..." She pauses again. "It's foolish, but I thought he might arrive with all who stormed the tower, to valiantly rescue everyone..."
The white sith grins, stretching her arms and pulling on the ice-glass a little with her fingers, staying sprawled out on her belly, "This one is curious about how things are, and, things have been very same for me for a long time. The creativity is thoughts stored up all those years. To find something lest the sameness drive me insane."
She exhales wistfully, "I saw Tanith's home, but did not remember it. I thought it would come back with my other memories. That's why I think I did not eat the fruit properly. I think that was before, the time gets confusing."
She turns her head, looking up at Kira, "This one is sorry he did not come. I wish he had. It is like a letter when you wish the person, or no letter at all. I am still surprised and grateful to find you there, what you suffered, what you did for Zeke. I wonder why the Demon was sent to choose someone. Oh, you know to not say their names, yes?"
Kira nods. "I don't want to say them, even if there was no harm in it. I don't know why he was sent, either. I tried to learn or understand why she did many things, but that seemed... meaningless." She offers a smile, though, when Cryo looks to her. "I don't fault him that he didn't. As much as it was a fanciful and foolish wish for that, I would be upset if he risked himself for me. Not when Aika should be his only worry. She needs her father. She may want a mother, and he a wife, but ... I worry I gave them false hopes. It's probably best that things are this way. I'm sure they will find what they want."
Mention of Zeke makes her wistful and saddened in similar, but obviously different vein. "I wish i'd been able to do more. To keep him, and you, from there... or taken his place. We could have talked, all that time, and you both might be stronger, now, for that."
"It calls their attention, and they can read minds at a distance. That's why the Iron Book gave Ezil and I these rings." Cryo removes her right glove, underneath is a ring that looks like it's been on her finger a long time. "He has a demon we need to deal with at some point. Saying their name lets them know what you're thinking of them."
She replaces her glove. "I hope they do. You should be happy too, even if that is not a path you can walk."
The white sith sighs, "I think I would undo it all, if I could. Not go. I wonder what that me would have been. The one that reached this age without the Mistake. Zeke would be as he is. We ... if we chose to be together, would have aged with Seldan, benefitted from his wisdom over the years. He would be dead. Perhaps in Reunion. I would be telling his nephew or neice of him. Faran too, I would mentor her offspring. Auranar would still be around, and that dark elf that pops out of shadows, and Mikilos. And Elly. No Malik or Merek. Unless Merek becomes the dragon or angel he seems to be trying to be..."
"Any or all of the demons can be seen to, and will," Kira nods. Her eyes then look over the whitescale and linger as she thinks of what that Cryo might be like. "Your children might be learning of things right alongside them..." Which is a pleasant thought and makes her smile.
"Yes, undoing it all would be the best, She having never done any of this. Though she did, I'm very glad that you returned to us now. Otherwise, I'd never have known you."
Cryo can't quite look dignified while she has her legs, tail and rump hanging over the edge of ledge. It looks a little like she took a dive, and missed. While many sith-makar features are draconic, the current way she's lying doesn't seem very wyrm-like. Plus, she'd have wings. Her head and horns perhaps. The silk robes bunch over her form. Her markings are the strangest. Spots, and lines, and swirls.
She turns her head, smiles, "I'm very glad to have met you. I know we met before, but wrestling Kol into the fountain still seems like the first meeting. We adventured together, even if the adventure came to us. This one is not even sure she can go by the fountain anymore, it seems such a trouble magnet."
Kira smiles in return. "You're right. Maybe I should've said that I might not know you as I do now? It's not all been pleasant, but I don't know if I'd want to trade that for nothing at all." Speaking of nothingness, she looks over at Cryo's dangling half. "You're not going to fall, are you?" That would be a terribleend note, to have weathered all this, to slip and fall in a tragic accident at home?
"I still like the fountain. I think, like you, while there are unpleasant memories around it, there is much more joy than not."
"What? Fall?" Cryo pushes herself up, "Oh no! I'm faaaaaaallling."
She slides over the edge, out of sight. Almost, out of sight. The tips of her horns are sticking up. From below she calls, "It's an illusion on the wall, the wall only goes down a body length from the edge. The only danger is pinching toes. And it's kind of tight."
The white sith climbs up, "I have good memories too, but I will hesitate to put my tail in the fountain anymore. Did you see how fast she froze it? I'd have had a tailsickle!"
Kira reflexively leans forward as Cryo slides down. But then... she can't help it. Between the "fall" and tailsicle, Kira laughs! Not just a chuckle or giggle, but one that goes on long enough she has to clutch her stomach. There may even be tears at the corner of her eye. She may be in danger of falling, herself! Not that this dissuades her. Some part of her may have decided it needs this, and doesn't want to, or can't, cap it off too early.
"Yes! Fall! This one won't catch you!" Cryo says with a laugh, as she's standing on the ledge now and catching Kira would be difficult. "Do it, up close the illusion is really freaky."
Absurd on top of absurd, hard air and warm ice.
Kira maybe can't even do that at the moment as she's doubled over. She does finally try to catch her breath and calm. Once she is more stable, rather than fall, she offers a hand to Cryo to possibly help her up. She's still giggling, but at least has presence of mind about her.
Cryo grins, holding her hand up to be pulled up. "This one is glad you enjoyed! What should it be tomorrow? The dojo for your practice?"
Kira isn't strong, but since Cryo isn't really falling and can help, too, Kira helps her up. "If that's what you'd like? I think it would be interesting to see. If anyone could design a wonderful one, it would be you."
Faranmidahn has been silent, lingering in her thoughts as the others spoke, sifting her recent emotions out of her consciousness, combing the anguished associations from her treasure moments and it's a silent blink that brings the lucht's chin up and she overtly rejoins the now, "Ah, pardon... I was... getting myself ready." Her head cant's and, "If you're still interested..?"
Cryo nods enthusiastically, "Oh yes, this one is! I'm quite curious to see the world from your perspective." She grins over at her little lucht sister, "Which memory have you picked?"
Kira turns to Faran and smiles. "Oh! Wonderful!" She leaves Cryo to the lucht for now, since she did monopolize the sith some already.
The little knight blushes a little and, 'I took your advice, Cryo.' she says thoughtfully, 'Well, partially. When '"Daddy" she dims just a little at her native word, but continues in her previous humor, 'let me keep Torrent I was soooo happy...!' She sighs, 'But that was hard won... we had a lot of back and forth over that before he gave in and... I don't... I don't want to take you there, not for this.' <halfling>
She takes up one of her scrolls anew and unfurls it, her voice sonorously intoning the words on the page as she calls to mind one of her more recent moments:
Inside a resplendent hall, complete with paintings of past Champions of the Order amidst the vaulted architecture strewn with fine purple penants and illuminated in a the warm glow of elaborate sconces, and peopled with dozens of well appointed souls -Knights and Consorts all, arrayed to either side of her.
There is a soft, gentle pressure on her left shoulder as she, clad in her formal silk arming dress, the feel of it on her skin, the gentle pull of her hair, the weight of it resting in a braided train down her back as she remains genuflecting, speared by dozens of eyes. She can feel them, and so many more.
There is a low, gentle voice to her left side, close at hand, though tradition demands she look nowhere but the grandmaster without his leave, the words foreign to any ears but her own, though her memory translates them freely: Be calm, little Spring, it's almost done.
Apprehension fades some, reassurance, blooming pride that she struggles to keep from her face. Austerity is the rule at this stage. The gentle pressure on her shoulder is withdrawn.
The Grand Master, a weathered soul of some split ancestry, steps forward at last from the Dais and reaches to her right shoulder to withdraw a short purple scarf, passing it to his second, a middle aged giner woman with brown eyes. She can smell the fresh oil and still recent lacquer of his harness, maintained and readied so for every such occaision, and at last, with a voice that is bold yet rusted with the years, begins to speak in Trade. He busies his hands out of her view of his face, even as he is reciting the precious Tenets of the Purple Rose, each succint phrase echoed in her voice, though each preceded from Faran with 'I shall'.
With her last repeated statement, he says: 'That is your oath.'
There is a blur of movement, a crisp impact and a flash of pain that forces her head to the right.
'And that is so you remember it. Rise, and be welcomed, Sir Faranmidahn Waywalker!'
The hall reverberates in the raised chorus of the Order, that dearest voice beside her amongst them, that she can feel in her breast even as it stokes her heart:
RISE, A KNIGHT!
She squares herself, suppressing the urge to touch her burning cheek.
RISE, A KNIGHT!
Her hand presses against her upraised knee.
RISE, A KNIGHT!
The little Lucht gathers her feet and the room ROARS in approval, relief and pride blooming within her, before the Grizzled old man finaly allows himself to smile 'Welcome to the fold, young one.' and affixes the Rose broach to her dress.
'Thank you, Grandmaster!' she replies, when the hand, familiar settles firmly upon her shoulder again and draws her about to look down into the proud, loving gaze of a Lucht man of nearing middle age, with black wavy hair and stormy blue eyes, and only some nicks missing from his left ear to show of his own battles. Their eyes meet for but a moment before he draws her into a tight, loving embrace and his words in her ear for her alone: I'm so proud of you, my girl, you'll do wonderous things in your time, I know it!
Cryosanthia nods, listening carefully to Faran's explanation, and then enters the sensation of the memory. Her thoughts are awash. Firstly, this is the feel of silk! Hair again! The excitement of being under scrutiny. The gravity of the formality and the ceremony, and the tenets of the Purple Rose. This time, her attention is full and she tries to commit these to memory.
The white sith comes out of it rubbing at her jaw, and laughs, "You took you oath so hard I felt it!" She has a wide grin, and crouches down, "It was wonderful to see your father, and this one understands how important it is to you. I will be better, with remembering your oaths, than I have been with Ezil's and Sir Seldan's."
Faranmidahn's smile is tinged with sadness as she, too relives the moment, but as she withdraws, the associations... the absences reaffix themselves. Cryo's words bring an awkward look to her face, but she nods, "Father warned me about that part, but still...!" she chuckles a little then sighs. She misses him. Her eyes scream as much, though she coaches it from most of her face and she reaches out to gently stroke Cryo's snout, "Thank you, Cryo, but I'm the one that should bear them in mind..." before she manages to hide that personal hurt once more, giving forth light, "I love you, Cryosanthia." she says and moves in to hug her.
Cryo moves to return the hug, sweeping Faran into her arms and strong embrace. She wears silk now, so the lucht will feel that sliding against her scales, an odd whisper of softness. "I love you, and I will treasure that memory. I know how much it hurts, and I'm sorry. I won't forget." She strokes at her hair, holding her tight, staring at the walls of glass ice.
As Cryo read one scroll while Faran reads the other, Cryo touches Faran, Faran touches Kira while she calls that to mind, and both experience it.
Does that mean that Kira receives it... third hand? Not that it isn't any less real or poignant, nor even any different that way. The apprehension is maybe expected even before it's felt, but the soothing words and growing pride quickly overthrow the initial worries. It is no surprise that Kira wears her emotions on the surface, even when they aren't truly hers; like with Cryosanthia's sharing, it wouldn't be too hard to gauge where she is in any of it by her expression alone.
Her control may be less than Faran's, too, as she has tears on her cheek at the end. Not of sadness, but joy... even after she returns to the here and now. She steps close, seeking to join in the hug (because hugs!), but also to note, reverently, "Thank you. I am honored that I was able to meet him, Faran..." While she didn't, -technically-, her words and gratitude still stand.
Faranmidahn gives Cryo a fierce squeeze at her words, a soft, choked sound in her throat despite her intentions and she nods against her sister's shoulder. She loosens her embrace to looks to Kira as she, too emerges from the memories of the little knight's dubbing. She smiles, eyes glittering and she takes Kira into her arms as well, "Maybe... someday..." she muses, but trails off, instead opting to encircle the two in her little arms and leaving 'what ifs' for another time. This is for healing. For sisterhood. Later for the rest...
Cryo smiles at the two, sitting back in a crouch on her tail. She brushes at Faran's arm, a Kira's, "This one would not ruin these feelings with my current worries, the letter I've received, the one I must write. Let me show you the weirdness of this ice cavern. There are trophies and a treasure room, and a hot pool of glass that looks like you are swimming in an ice cube. And fish! It has a pile of furs as the bed, and one of the alcoves is a guest bed!"
"Oh, that reminds! Faran, if you are worried Serrendine is being scryed on, she may stay here with me. We might have things we could discuss also. Or not. I can make the next place with extra privacies."
"Please, feel free to show us the rest..." Kira encourages with a smile after the embrace loosens. "I think it's wonderful to invite her here, also." A look to Faran that only bears encouragement.
Faranmidahn looks between the two for a moment, considering her mother's current state, and of course, the Chapterhouse. She nods, "I'll bring her by, though, perhaps it would be nice to give her something to do. Maybe we could set up some sort of correspondance with the Arcanists, so she can try and re-archive her research?" She looks up to the two with a little smile, then looks to Cryo, "You know... retrieving the Hunter's Horn was the closest I've come to actually swimming in a long time? Oh! I should tell you about Globdulac one day!" She pauses, "Well, I feel a little bad about him, but one day I really want to go visit again, it was so amazing down there!"
"How did you nearly go swimming with Gilead's horn, when our boat sank?" Cryosanthia asks, standing and swishing in silk. She waves at the two, "come, this way, all the unusual armour suits. I think correspondance with the Arcanists is a good idea, restoring her research. There may be other things we can discuss. I will ask for spaces for her."
The whitescale sith leads the way over to one of the wall notches. It all has a sense of a real place, almost lived in, despite having being created only a few hours earlier. It speaks of a place and a personality not quite like Cryo's, not Salina's either. Mikilos' perhaps. It seems strangely comfortable and contained for it's size.
There is a lot to see, with good friends, and imagine what it might really be.
GAME: Faranmidahn used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Faranmidahn used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Cryosanthia used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Cryosanthia used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Cryosanthia used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Cryosanthia used a Scroll of Share Memory. GAME: Cryosanthia used a Scroll of Share Memory.
The Letters
From: Zeke At: Fri Jun 12 04:44:21 2020 To: Cryosanthia Subject: From Zeke
Cyrosanthia
This one has heard so many things about you from others, but nothing from you, so this one does not know what is happening. If it is true that you think that this one abandoned you. If you have hurt yourself. If you are holding hurt feelings toward this ones kin. The words that others have offered to this one on your behalf have been confusing and harmful. This one thinks that they know not what they say, but you have spoken to them? and not this one.
Most importantly, this one wants you to know that you are not abandoned. Never that. We have been together for eighty and more years, you should know that this one would never do such. So if you think it true, this one wants to be certain you know that it is not. The only reason that this one is apart from you now is because this one knows much of healing. Knows that this one must heal if this one can hope to help you heal. That together we were hurting one another rather than helping.
So this one went to kin, told you where this one was going so that you would know? and yet this one can not find you in turn. You have gone away and left this one to wonder if you have left this one. Acedia says that we are not cihuaa. Have you chosen to take back what once you gave this one? This one is wrought with concern.
Concern because you asked something so wrong of Seldan. Something against the laws of this land and against the very goodness of things. Something that would steal the light from his soul and leave him bereft of his goddess. A thing you yourself said you would not ask of this one. As if you knew that this one never could? And yet you asked it of this one's kin. You asked it as if the asking would not hurt this one at all.
You of all should know that this one could never watch another come to harm. Could never watch you, or Seldan, or Malik come to harm without it being a blade in this ones own chest. It is this ones nature. This one hopes? that you have had time to think on that request, and find the wisdom in Seldan's refusal. This one hopes that you can understand this ones need for apartness to heal.
This one hopes that you will send a letter in response. That this letter finds you well. Whole and hale and healing as this one is. So that when we are together again the sharp edges of our hurt do not harm us all the more. This one wishes nothing but good things for you Cryosanthia. May there be peace on your nest? wherever that nest now is found.
From: Cryosanthia To: Zeke Subject: Dearest Zeke
Dearest Zeke
I do. I have tried. I do. I have.
You fetched me so they could say horrible things to me then left with them. I felt completely abandonned. What was I to think in so clear a rejection? Could what they have said be true? Did you agree? The more I thought, yes. It must be so. When they said I could not be protected alone; you all left me unprotected, alone. I decided it best to leave everyone. The others stopped me or I would be gone. I am grateful that you say I should not have feel this way, but I did.
I have not spoken with Acedia. She draws conclusions from what she sees. Acts as Malik suggested, observing without bias instead of how you wish things to be. Something I am trying to do. This one understands I am wrong. This one understands what I asked of Sir Seldan is wrong.
You are all smarter and wiser than me, so I must trust what all have said. Malik's careful questions of what you wanted whenever I expressed a preference, Sir Seldan's insistence that I treat and think of mates as property. Their concern is I dominate and control you. I see it is true. My instincts for your recovery were wrong. You are better with them. You improved in their presence. Worsen in mine. Your scents are relief when they are close, fear and worry when I am. They see me as a bad person and I see I am bad for you.
I retract nothing but I wonder what I offered. What I might have been tricked by Salina to offer, with feelings as strong as for Menel but still a lie, to destroy him, you, Sir Seldan. I am the trap to weaken you. You weakened, weakens Sir Seldan. I am just one of the tools to undermine him. A our whole relationship may also be. I have further thoughts on the Fernwood, why our feelings for each other are part of her plan and conditionning that I must now break. To be free of her and not a danger to you and everyone else.
Your body knows I am wrong for you. That I am selfish, that I am irresponsible, that I am the reason you suffered those decades. That's why you can't touch me. Sir Seldan will die before he lives out the number of years we were together in the tower, yet he is comfortable to you and I am not. You choose him for safety. Malik and Sir Seldan's words made this clear. I wanted a defending mate, but you were right to take their side. I love you Zeke but you deserve better. Be free of me. Go, with true friends who protect you and not the selfish one that clings to your detriment. You are the strong one in this relationship. I drag you down. I am the parasite.
I will never be free of Salina. Even if she is killed, she is still in my mind. Even if the conditionning is broken, years from now I will move in a way and remind you of her. Her work will always be written on my scales. Her influence cannot be undone. For every memory I have without her, I have four with. She has shaped me in ways that will stay with me until I die, and beyond. I am Maskurwarayuslih now.
You deserve a cihuaa who does not remind you of the two women who have hurt you most in life. You are strong, generous, handsome, with a kind heart and unlimited patience. You are rich, well positionned with the Temple, well respected. Anyone would be lucky to have you. You do not see your own power and beauty, your careful kindness. Walk Mictlan, women will flock to you. Find someone you want to touch and make a nest with. Someone whose presence brings you comfort, not pain.
I understand now, how I am wrong and they are not. I don't want to be around your kin. It would be best to follow their advice and we stay apart.
Be Well
Cryosanthia