Dragon's Brew [closed]

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle nodded, "Mine best friend is one." She would glance at Tani and note the confused expression. Grinning playfully, the elezen would set her tea down and fetch an ahriman pot. Inside, it had a single little red daisy.

 

"Mine friend over the years. I enjoy gardening because, as I spoke before.. they listen to anyone. Plants do not judge nor plot behind one's back." Isabelle would tenderly touch a petal. "They are always there when none others are." She would set down the pot as if the ahriman was facing the fire too before sipping her tea again. "And.. when they die, they come back."

[Hal]

Tani was taken aback, and despite her best efforts it showed on her face.  She took her sweet time in answering.  "Is that why you make light of bloodsport and death?"  Her tone was entirely neutral, matching her face.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle glanced at Tani, "Is death not.. normal in the lives of others..?" She furrowed her brow, "It took a long time to realize how different mine views and experiences were." The elezen chuckled a bit, "What can one do, save make light of tragedy and death when such things are a part of one's destiny? One's only talent."

[Hal]

"Death is part of life.  But how much death..."  Tani shrugged one-shouldered. 

 

Tani was not a comforting sort of person, so she let Isabelle's comments pass without responding, choosing instead to ask: "so you were...not being entirely serious, the day of the first meeting?  With what you, ah, said."

 

Careful, lass.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle glanced at Tani confused, "What did I say..?"

[Hal]

Tani winced, and covered it by rubbing at her face.  Her hand then migrated to her earlobe, which she plucked at absentmindedly.  "Ahh, something about ... disemboweling and blood and death being part of your hobbies, or some such."

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle was thoughtfully quiet. She spoke simply. "Yes." The elezen would turn to Tani as she continued, "Because I knew none would ask why." She would sip the last bit of her tea before setting the cup down and holding the Ahriman pot in her hands.

 

"There is no life without death." Isabelle almost seemed as if she were talking to herself, though her words were directed at Tani. "Just like during the mission. Death is the cost of Life. His death was the cost of thy life. Thine death was the price of his life." She would look at Tani, "I chose thine life over his. The blood price. It is worth it... for.." Isabelle hesitated a moment before finishing, "For.. a.. a.."

 

It was almost easy for Tani to see the mental mask that Isabelle covered herself with now that she had seen the elezen vulnerable with her guard down. Her words were almost a little sad as she spoke, ".. for a.. comrade." It wasn't difficult to see that she saw Tani as a friend but was far too walled up within herself to openly admit it.

[Hal]

The room was suddenly very interesting.  Tani let her eyes wander as Isabelle spoke, all the awkwardness bled from her -- bled from both of them -- and replaced with something far less easy.  Worse.  It was worse.  And what was there to be done?   

 

What was always done.

 

"I'll ask why, then," she said, because the price was too high to acknowledge what else Isabelle had said.

 

Or she was too much a coward.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle smiled a little as she tenderly touched the petals of the flower in the ahriman pot. Her eyes wandered to the details of the pot in her hands and replied to the complex question in simple words, "Tis an easy choice. Thine life holds more value than scum." 

 

She would glance at Tani curiously from the corner of her eyes, "Should Nymeia deem it otherwise, then there is nothing I could have done with mine hand but.. I would have gladly paid thine price too for thy life."

[Hal]

It wasn't what she'd meant.  Given the context of their conversation, Tani could even understand why, but it didn't make her reaction any easier.  She studied the details of the room, the contrast between hard and soft; danger and comfort.  Anger flared.  It surprised her.  She hadn't expected it, especially not before Isabelle, in her rooms, Tani as her guest.  It wasn't an appropriate response, but she gave into it anyways, because it was easier.  Because it was known to her, and she knew what to do with it.

 

She was a coward.

 

"I shouldn't have been there," she said, a new and cool edge to her tone.  She was embarrassing herself, and later she would pay for it with shame and regret.  But right then? She didn't care.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle watched Tani curiously. Her features softened as she let her guard down again. The elezen couldn't help but smile a little at Tani's anger. She understood. It takes many to walk the paths of life. Isabelle tried to be as comforting as she could.. as best as she could. She had been in the same position once a very, very long time ago.

 

"Thou hads't e'ery right to be there."

 

But of course, she had to ask. Isabelle's voice was soft and daresay, compassionate, "Why art thou still trying to prove thine worth to thineself when it is quite clear to us that thou art irreplaceable?"

[Hal]

It was always easy to ignore the things she didn't wish to respond to.  Tani chose not to hear it, to not remember it.  She wanted to argue.

 

"No," she said, and the edge in her voice grew sharp.  "I am a bookkeeper, not a warrior, and not some gods-forsaken infiltrator.  I had no business being there, and I should have known as much.  I should have said as much."

 

The fire was suddenly unfriendly.  She turned her face away from it, closed her eyes too long for a blink, and opened them on Isabelle.  Tani's eyes weren't friendly, either.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle seemed immune to Tani's anger. Her turquoise eyes simply met the accountant's gaze. The elezen saw deeper things. Deeper troubles. Deeper insecurities. She wanted to help but.. such things were not her strong point. Not in this guise. Not in this place. Not with this... name nor the mask associated with it.

 

She would do the first thing she could think of.

 

"Thou needs a hug. Maybe.. a moment to let thine tears flow from thine frustrations. I know tis nay a thing best from me but.. I will nay tell a soul."

[Hal]

Tani stood abruptly, setting her tea down on the tray.  "Thank you for humoring me," she said, adjusting her gloves and not quite looking at Isabelle.  "I'd best get back to work.  Please, enjoy the tea.  I'll return later to collect the dishes."

 

She turned to leave.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle leaned over and touched Tani's hand before she could get too far.

 

"Tani.."

 

Shit.. she froze for a moment. The same thoughts exploded through Isabelle's mind as had been when she was tense earlier.

 

Don't panic. Be smooth. Don't be threatening. Don't break shit.. Don't be weird.

 

"Please.. Stay."

 

 

... Failed.

[Hal]

Tani snatched her hand away from Isabelle, whirling back to the other woman, her face flushing.  She was visibly angry, visibly cold in that anger.  "Why?"

[Moonlit_Demon]

"Thou can take thine anger out on me instead of thineself."

 

Failed again.. Stop being weird. You're not helping.

 

Isabelle had a determined look upon her face though. She'd gesture to Tani.

 

"I will nay strike back. None shall even know. I always wear mine armor anyway."

 

She waited. Isabelle's gaze only reflected Tani's own anger back at her as if daring the girl to be brave. 

 

Be brave just one more time. Fight your fate and strike me. 

Do it.. Prove yourself wrong.

[Hal]

"Why do you always cover your face?"  Controlled.  Tani wanted to be mean.

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle smirked, "Thou shalt have to work a bit harder to find out."

 

She would move into position and tap her chest, "Art thou trying to change subject? Convince me that thou wishes to know why I always wear a mask."

 

The half-mask almost seemed like a good and easy target to snatch.... almost.

[Hal]

"If you aren't willing to give, then neither am I."

 

Tani didn't reach out.  She stood, hands fisted at her sides, and stared with her chin lifted.

[Moonlit_Demon]

"Scared..?"

 

Isabelle was trying to pick and prod at that wall.

 

"Afraid of knowing the truth or be this misdirection to hide thine soft, girly strikes?"

 

The elezen would almost mock Tani as she made such a girly little strike.

 

"Come now.. I thought thou wishes to know why I wear mine mask?"

[Hal]

"Merely exposing the hypocrisy.  If that's all?"

[Moonlit_Demon]

"Speak for thineself." 

 

She smirked, spitting just as much fire. Isabelle couldn't deny that she was rather enjoying herself.

 

"Art thou too shy to commit to thine question now that thou knowest the price of such knowledge? Be thou too... frightened..? Afraid to know truth?"

[Hal]

"You make many assumptions, and now you're reaching.  Spare me the histrionics, Isabelle.  You've not yet earned them with me."

[Moonlit_Demon]

Isabelle tilted her head, "Can thou truly leave and believe such things?" 

She smiled, softening again. 

 

"Tis alright, mine friend. I forgive thee of thine transgressions. All knowledge comes with a price. Tis best nay to ask a question that thou does not wish to hear an answer to."

 

Isabelle would adjust her mask a bit. "Ne'er ask what thou does not truly wish the answer to."

 

Her gaze would meet Tani's. Her next cryptic words almost seemed to be aimed at Tani but clearly, they were not.

 

"To the bearer of such knowledge, Death is oft the price once one's secrets and masks are shattered."