Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

" They are.. Reasonably upset, I would say, sire. " Sage chose his words carefully. " But the anger will diminish in time, I hope. May I ask how are you doing, sire? Is something wrong? Do you require anything? I will be more than happy to accommodate you.. "

[Mirach]

"I want to ask for accomodation, actually," Svarik smiled at the phrasing. "And a job for a friend. Do you remember Jake, now calling hikself Meredith, whom Falcon sent? Could you find a place for him in your kitchen for three months? Then he will move on, maybe go somewhere else, but I hope he will return to us. He is dear to me..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Meredith Mortimer? Yes, I remember. I keep an eye out on all men Falcon sends me. " Sage said, seeming to still feel some discomfort with being with Svarik after his family was in danger, but landing ear to his request honestly. " Let's see... He was a troublesd young lad, with lot of hurt in his heart, but no will to talk of it. He barely left the household... hm... position that would suit him, let's see..." he thought for a moment, before he sugested to king. " I will need someone to look out for Tide in next period. To make sure he eats healthy, and plentifully. I will need someone I can trust, to make and bring him food to his room, and keep on eye out on him, to make sure he is nourished properly. I could, of course, asign that to someone else, but Jake would be good choice for it, since Tide had a soft spot for him and tried to help him out, and since, like this, lad will have lot of free time, but also double the pay, for his additional trouble - both which he could use, time for himself, money for saving up to travel. He can cook anything he wishes additionally too if he is bored and wants to treat someone else - but meals for Tide would be only obligation set upon him.   " He noted simply and confidently , knowing how to deal with damaged people, it seemed." He would be Tide's personal cheff, with plenty of pay and plenty of free time. Would that atrangment be.. satisfying to you... sire? "  He used his noble adresing hesitantly and a little uncomfortably.

[Mirach]

"Thank you, that would be great," Svarik nodded. "And could we get back to "Nightingale", please? Neither you nor your family are responsible for anything that happened yesterday, there is no need to be so formal to me..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Perhaps. The shame of you being my guest, and I not being able to keep you safe from danger while in my hold, still weights upon me. I was not able to protect you. But yes, it's true... I am not free with you as I used to be... after everything yesterday. " Sage admitted quietly, it being true, it seemed, by his more stiff posture, that he does not feel safe with Svarik anymore as he used to. He paused, before he dared to ask carefully. " Sire... If I may ask.. I need to know.. I know Lorenzo didn't do anything, so it's above possibility now... But if he was one guilty, in the end.. Would you... Would you really strive to kill my whole family over it? " he bid quietly, as if with some astonished, defeated attitude. " And even if he was guilty... misguided... My son is still my precious treasure... Would you have really sought to take him from me? After all I did for you? After I welcomed you here as a friend? "

[Mirach]

"No, of course not," Svarik replied, sitting down so Sage could sit as well. "Erdel just said it to scare him into a honest reply. I did not even sentence those who were far more succesfull in harming me, and more responsible for their actions. Or do you think that I would not spare the son of someone who was so kind to me, like I spared an actor whom I never met before?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I believe you would. " Sage said, as he was sitting down slowly. " From what I sow of you, you seem to have a heart soft, and kind, too kind, maybe, like heart of my foolish, dearest friend Tide... But even good people can turn cruel when they and their loved ones are threatened. Me included. My family is my greatest treasure. I would protect it with my life. " he admitted quietly. " It is just quite hard... To be free around you... When I greeted you as friend, as little Nightingale, honored guest from my dear acquaintance ser Falcon... And I ended up dealing with an emperor Svarik, sire, after all... "

[Mirach]

"Not emperor. King. And it wasn't by my choice that it happened, it was the situation that put me into the role that I wished to leave behind for a while. I guess I can't really leave it behind though. Your friend, little Nightingale, is also your friend, king Svarik. Or would like to be, if you stop thinking that they should be some separete personalities, while it's still just me..."

[VisAnastasis]

" If it is still just you, then let me just call you *Svarik*, then. " lord asked him quietly. " You came to me under a guise of but another man from Organisation, seeking shelter in my home for a while. I welcomed you, as I would welcome any as dear friend of the Falcon, that brightest star upon the northern sky. I have grown fond of you in times passed, though, and I'd want to invite you to be my friend, instead of just dear guest. " he said quietly, watching him intently. " You are master of sunshine. You are Svarik. If you want to be my friend, let my friend be known to me under his real name. "

[Mirach]

"I quite enjoyed being Nightingale. Falcon gave me the name, and I'm fond of it. But you are right, my true name is Svarik, and I should be Svarik to you. But you can stll use Nightingale as a nickname sometimes," he smiled.

[VisAnastasis]

" Nicknames are okay. Hans is a nickname, and Tide is a nickname, after all. Nightingale is a sweet nickname, as well. I loved it, and I'd like to use it when it's fit for ocassion. But, still, if we are to be friends, I wish you to be Svarik, to me. Just Svarik - just like sir Falcon is just Conrad to me. " man asked, and he slowly extended hand to him, as if asking him to seal it as a deal.

[Mirach]

"Good to know," Svarik smiled. "I only use the nickname before others because I never know whom he told his true name and whom not. It is my pleasure to be just Svarik to you," he said, and pressed Sage's hand.

[VisAnastasis]

Sage pressed king's hand back firmly, and it seemed a little bit of shaken trust he had in Svarik mended a little bit, though it would need to pass a little more time, before man would be as free with him as at a start of their meeting. It seemed he was willing to offer him peace and truce, though, from his own will and volition.
" If I had been anyone but The Sage, enlightened and one with the sea, I would have told you my name. But since I am who I am, I can just say - that I am obliged to you. " Sage whispered, as he looked into Svarik's eyes, and then, slowly offered. " As a friend to a friend... I am also obliged to note, that while concerned for my family, I was also concerned for you. " he admitted freely, with no shame or theatricality, only with some hesitantly showing, warmth he had for king before. " I sow your soul, bare before me, remember... I held it in my hands, ever briefly. I understand you was hurt deeply, and I am ashamed that while in my home, you experienced what you have last night, instead of safety I promised you. Such things can upset even healthiest souls, and I can feel it upset yours... My question is... a voiced concern of  the friend you see before yourself. I ask you, Svarik - do you feel alright? " he bid him quietly. " Could I do anything, for you? Your soul is still fresh and vulnerable, and needs care to bloom and flower again. Because you are my friend, if that is what you think you need - I would not hesitate to take you to the Sea Heart again. I am not healer of souls, alas, so I can not give you much more,but to that place, I could lead you again, if you feel it would help you. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you, but I'm not sure if I dare to go there again in such a short time," Svarik said. "It was a freeing experience, but also straining and painful and the memory is still fresh. Tonight I will have Melody's care, and after that I will see. I must admit I don't feel that well..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I just wanted to offer it to you, and tell you the offer still stands, for whatever time you feel like using it - now, tomorrow, or any time, as long as I live, and as long as we are friends. " Sage promised him solemnly and simply. " Listen to your soul's needs, and be honest with yourself about them... And if you feel you need to go there again, all you need to do, is tell me, and I shall lead you there, and give you guidance you need.  Just give it a thought, and keep it in mind, please. I wished I could give you more, but since I am no healer, I feel only other soothing thing I could offer you is a warm meal. " man grinned a little bit, as he asked innocently. " Speaking of it, have you eaten? If not, I would be happy to have a dinner with you, Svarik... "

[Mirach]

"I spent much of the day with Jake, nibbling on something," Svarik chuckled. "But I didn't have proper dinner yet. We will gladly join you for it."

[VisAnastasis]

" I did not have dinner yet, either - so I shall be pleased to share meal with you. " Sage seemed pleased indeed, and he led them both to kitchen, and he made sure to pick them out something warm, tasty, and without meat, for both Xia and Svarik, and in solidarity, for himself as well.

[Mirach]

Svarik was glad to be on friendly terms with Sage again, as he would find it a pity if something liek yesterday's events spoiled that. After the dinner he went back to their room with Melody and his two "bodyguards", to go to bed early, so Melody could play for him.

[VisAnastasis]

Girl dined both meat and vegetables, eating a lot, so she would have lot of strength to play for a long while. When they got back to the room, she borrowed king's unicorn flute, and waited for Xia to climb on the bed, and then Svarik to get comfortable with her, before she asked for permission, and slowly started to play - at first, but a lightl, simple soothing melody, as she tried to focus on king's soul better, and to see its current state more clearly, so she could weave song suited for it.

[Mirach]

She could sense some new strains in his soul, with the fear for Erdel getting corrupted, and fear that Jake won't come back, and also new weariness after the exertion of making the violets grow with music, after which his strength has not been replenished properly, probably due to the current diet...

[VisAnastasis]

Melody's heart ached when she felt that unhealthy diet was starting to have an ill effect on him, who strained himself already a lot with playing for flowers this morning and needed that extra nourishment. She did not want to strain him with conversation about it, right now at least. He needed to eat better again, but first, his strained soul needed to be taken care of. Slowly, in the soothing tune, Melody wove in more deeper, gentle undertone, of reassurance that everything is alright, and that all will be fine...

She slowly reached into his essence with her soft light music, to see how Svarik will feel about his soul being touched, for the first time now, since she played healing music for it when she answered his call for help.

[Mirach]

Svarik tensed at first, in an deeply rooted instinct, but then he opened up towards her, making her feel welcome.

[VisAnastasis]

Melody knew it would need lot of continuous reassurance and care, for that tenseness to stop being reflex to him, but she rewarded his trust with weaving a soft, silky sense of pleasure into her song. Slowly, like last time, she unraveled his vulnerable soul bare before her, though this time, it was a little bit different - for Svarik's mental barriers were already softened before her from last time, and she didn't have to breach them through pain. She only leaned upon Svarik's mental barriers, and let them bend and tremble under weight of soothing music, until they would let her music pass and seep deeper, like a stream of river passing into softened soil. Slowly, she made sure to pass through all his barriers, and, like last time, anew she left his soul linger, fully unraveled and bare before herself, as she played and played.

[Mirach]

Compared to the last time, the pleasure of the song was bought with much smaller pain, and Svarik leaned into the music more trustfully.

[VisAnastasis]

Melody had allowed his soul to linger in that vulnerability - she made sure it is engulfed with knowledge that it is helpless before the music, but also overwhelmed with feeling that power over him that it has is not used to force itself upon him or belittle him, only to bring him pleasure and care. It reached into dirty imprints faul fingers left within him, and ever slowly - she was exchanging the feelings of experriencing such cruelty and humiliation within him, again with feeling of being tended to, and touched with conscent, softly, gently, and with respect, exchanging memories of pain, like last time, with memories of safety, pleasure, and relief.