Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

" My condolences, little one... " Tide whispered quietly. " I am sorry, but he is really a marvel to the tired eyes. Not really in cabality... he still has lot to learn and experience to gain... but he has a gifted for making powerful allies, thanks to his kind heart. All people he surrounded himself with are extremely good and capable and will be great for our land.... and as for his heart... It is heart of gold. No... gold is too  cold and taught to describe him. He has a heart of softest silk, as gentle as cotton... " demon whispered quietly. " Yes... He is even better guy than they say he is. He will be a balm for our land, of that I am sure ."
----

" Lorenzo, you said he prefers to talk about his roles alone..  We will talk, you and me, to ours heart content in the nothing, do you can tell me all about the played he hates and characters he can't stand. " Hans grinned grimly, politeness in his tone, but vengefulnes in his eyes - when you gazed upon them, you would fear ever falling out of his favor.  " No one will know that, better than you. I will have a word about that with his acting colleges, too."

[Mirach]

Senecio was quiet for a while, still shivering a little under the cloak. "That's almost hard to believe, with his father being an emperor... This really couldn't have ended well for both of us, but I guess I'm glad it did end like this. Let's drink to that, when the wine arrives!" he exclaimed, and his mood turned to joyfulness again.

---

"Be careful, please," Svarik warned him. "Do not make him feel distaste to the only thing he is passionate about. It could take less to break an artist, and I would really like to see his art when I come again. The repaying of Lorenzo's patronage seems like a better punishment to me."

[VisAnastasis]

" His father was terrible... But he grew up with his mother, not father. He picked up only best from the land. " Tide whispered. " Let's drink to it, then, and to new beginnings. You should not drink more than a glass, though. " he said firmly. " You can not mix painkiller and alcohol too much. " he smiled faintly, almost with little humor. " But I can, to my heart's content... You shall toast to it only with first glass of wine, rest will be with juice, deal? "

---

" Paying back the patronage, and just four really awful plays, then. " Hans negotiated. " One for each month Lorenzo was patron for him, organized once per month in next four months. Lorenzo gave him four months of his life for nothing, Senecio should give those four months back now. " he said confidently. " That would be more than fair exchange, in my opinion. "

[Mirach]

"Why not?" Senecio smirked. "What will it do, kill me?"

---

"Fine, that sounds reasonable," Svarik agreed. "But the play when I come better be a good one."

[VisAnastasis]

" You said you are my dear guest. " Tide reminded him quietly and simply. " Perhaps you'll die tomorrow, perhaps you'll not - but would you really like to make me miserable by dying while here and now? That would make me a very bad host. Do you want to make me a bad host? Good guests don't do such things. You said you are a good actor. You should stay in character. "

---

"  I have better idea, sir... " Erdel whispered quietly. " Sir... I think only four plays for four months are low number. I think he should do eight plays. Four awful plays, one every two weeks, in next two months - to have him suffer through as consequences of his vile act, to learn his lesson. Then he should be made to play four really good plays dedicated to Lorenzo, hard ones, beautiful ones, master pieces - to show how much sorry he is and to show his apology with what he can do best. I think that would be better repentance. "

[Mirach]

"Wow, is it really such a deadly combination? Because if it's just some headache tomorrow, then I don't really care," Senecio said. "I am your guest, and I would like to enjoy the night!"

---

"You know what, I don't really care for the exact number," Svarik said, feeling already rather tired while the talk was getting to less important things. "Just watch him and don't go over the line with it. Although, making him play a king in some awful piece would be rather satisfactory, I must admit."

[VisAnastasis]

" Painkiller is quite strong. That's why I'll allow... three glasses of wine. That will be quite enough. Besides, you said you only wished for my company. " demon said innocently. " Three glasses of wine are just enough of a bonus on top of my company, I'd say. Who knows, if you behave, I might be tempted to be generous, and even share a story or two of my adventures in the past, or speak of some of one or two of more peculiar forms I have. " he tempted him. " Only if you  behave. " he set boundary and condition straightly, though.

--

" There is one really awful play that is, alas, quite popular, involving a king of some sort. But pretty much every artist hates it, as far as I know.  " Hans said suddenly then. " It's not far, from land to the sea, on your faithful Xia. Why don't you come in two weeks, when first of those plays is planned, for one day? It'd be just one day off, and if you could bring us Falcon for just one day, perhaps - that would be very great, and I would be very grateful to you. It would be perfect excuse for us to finally all meet up together, even for a day. " he bid quietly - not saying aloud, but knowing king knows, that in two weeks Hans and Tide planned to leave this city, to be safe from Death.

[Mirach]

"I accept that," Senecio chuckled ans when the meal was brought, he drank the first one together with Tide, and got a good meal before baking the potatoes. "The embers must be just right for that," he explained. "It's not yet."

---

"We will come, if it's even just a little possible," Svarik promised. 

[VisAnastasis]

" Hmm... Alright then. We will wait. " Tide nodded, apparently not that much of a cook, so accepting authirity on that. He was into food, though, and he immedtelly started nibling on some bacon and sousage, while sipping wine, eating probably helping him ease when he felt nervous or thoughtful.

--
" It will be in two weeks. " Spirit said simply. " First play. I will send you invitations few days before notice. Make sure you make it possible."

[Mirach]

"Waiting... No, I don't want to wait. That's such a boring activity... I want to show you my best roles, and maybe remember about the potatoes later," Senecio said, although he didn't finish eating yet, with full mouth.

---

Svarik nodded. "I think we all need some rest now, if everything is solved..." he said then.

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright then. I would like to see that... But first, you need to finish the current rule. " Tide reminded him gently. " I am really into this one now. I first want you to finish role of a hungry guest, enjoying his meal, eating up everything, and getting comfy and warm, resting to replenish his strenght. " Tide insisted. " After you finish that one, we will see about the other roles. You are too weak from blood loss and painkillers. This role is just right for you now. "

--
" I agree. " Sage nodded quietly, after everything, indeed seeming a little broken and in need of good sleep.
" One thing, though - Lorenzo spent whole day, locked and dazed, fearful for his life. That should be paid back as well. " Hans said innocently, and winked at king. " I vote that we all go to sleep now, and rest plentifully until late in the morning, when we all get decent sleep. We should let the boy sweat a little too, and fear a little longer - it will give him plenty of time to think about what he has done. We will tell him of our decision after we all have had good rest. "

[Mirach]

It's not very challenging role, but it's alright.." Senecio shrugged. "One really should finish the role that was started," he said and continued eating.

----

"That's fair," Svarik nodded. "But he's with Tide, do you think he's not a bother to him?

[VisAnastasis]

" You are a bad actor if you can't stay in character for over ten minutes. " Tide finally smiled a little at a thought, and he continued eating too.

---

" Tide is too good for his own good. He has his ideas of justice. He sees such requests as noble service. " Hans said matter of factly. " If he accepted to guard him, then you can bet he sow it as keeping watch over a petulant kid, not keeping a prisoner. The lad will be well enough if he behaves, trust me, and Tide knows what he is doing. We should not disturb them. Have trust in my big guy. " he smiled faintly. "He will be okay, just doing his own thing, dear old fool, like always, believe me. "

[Mirach]

"I can stay in character as long as I want," Senecio boasted. "I just don't always want it. I can stay in so many characters that I don't even know which one of them is actually mine, heh..."

----

"Alright," Svarik nodded. "In that case, good night..."

[VisAnastasis]

" The one of a calm relaxed guest fits you just right, I think... " Tide advised him quietly. " I think you should go for that one. Stay in it for a while. It will be nicer, for both of us. Don't think too hard about it. Just let yourself Be. "

---

His hosts bid him good night, and Sage thanked him warmly, still sounding a bit shaken, but also warm with gratitude and relief. When they left, Melody appeared in room again, and she just soundlessly hugged Svarik, hugging him gently and mutely in sign of support and care.

[Mirach]

"You think so? Fine, I will try..." Senecio said, relaxing slowly as he ate and watched the flames.

---

Svarik hugged her back. "Since we don't have to rescue and damsels in distress at dawn, I think we deserve to sleep in and have a breakfast in bed, right?" he asked her gently.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide relaxed a little bit with time as well - it was nice to eat in safe and warm environment, and he was grounded, anyway, so it was better to focus on something, than just sit or read.

---

" We do..." girl whispered softly, and she innocently took him for hand, and gently led him to bed.

[Mirach]

"Second one," Senecio winked when he finished the meal and poured himself another glass of wine. "What shall we toast to?"

----

Svarik lied down and clsed his eyes with a tired sigh.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide carefully poured himself a glass of wine too, and took it in his healthy hand.
" I am not really good with toasts. " he admitted. " People always want to toast something in specific... I mostly feel like toasting to life and world - it has its flaws, but I am generally pleased with how it was for me. Magnificence and beauty of the world - that's what I like celebrating. I guess it's a bit too broad and general.... What do you think we should toast to? "

---

Melody and Xia did not speak - they just climbed on the bed, and cuddled up closely beside him, as if to protect and calm him. Xia let him lean on her, licking his hair a bit from time to time, as if cat would to soothe its kitten, and she was purring softly, to help him relax and lead him to better dreams.
Erdel did not speak, either - he but put out the candles, sat on his armchair in the darkness, and watches over them, letting them all rest after a tense night.

[Mirach]

"To this night," Senecio said without hesitation.

[VisAnastasis]

" To this night" Ah, and to the stars.... Stars are nice. " critter smiled a little at a thought - a bit unique in his own perception of language, interpreting night as time of comforting darkness and stars that he likes, not as this specific couple hours of time so significant to Senecio - and after their cups met, he drank up his glass. " I like night. " he exclaimed, looking out at the window. " Specially when it's stary, like this. When night are clear at sea, it means Sea Deity is at peace, and it makes me happy. "

[Mirach]

Senecio got up to go to the window and looked at the stars as well. "They are really pretty," he agreed.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was quiet. He stood up slowly, and went to window as well - despite having a mask in this stary form, looking up at sky as if seeing them.
" You know... " he said quietly then, looking at night sky. " I know you have no one to go to, and no one to call tonight. Otherwise, you would not ask to spend your last night with a stranger. If you had someone you truly loved in this world - you would not have done this in the first place... or in the very least, you'd have begged us to give you few hours with them. You did not. I do not think you have someone like that. I felt sorry for you, for that. " he told his conclusion simply and calmly, as a fact. " But you kind of messed up my plans a little bit. " he added practically, yet quietly, appearing little timid for some reason. " I planned to sneak out on an errand before you called, because everyone were  safe and tired, and night was clear. But I guess I am a bit stuck here with you now... "

[Mirach]

"Where did you want to go? I could accompany you... I won't run away, and even if I would, you can easily catch me."

[VisAnastasis]

" That's what I meant. " Tide admitted, seeming little flustered for some reason. " It's not too far. It's in no way meant as adventure of some sort, mind you. You can look at it as a parting gift of few hours outside, under moonlight... Something nice, for a foolish little human that decided to die before his time. I have a soft spot for foolish, dying creatures... But it is an errand. I did not make it up. There is this child of man that lives in capital, they call him Nameless - Erdel told me lot of nice things about him. I feel it is right call, and I want to pick up something nice for him from one of my more peculiar friends, as a gift - um, a little token of hidden gratitude to meadow king as well, if you wish to know, for, um, sparing my nephew, um, real one. Us demons are very serious about returning favors and kindness. " he whispered a little uncomfortably at a fact.  " But I thought you would like to tag along...  It's just two hours in one direction, straight across the sea, to one island hidden by misty portal that leads to third layer of world. We can be there and back before anyone notices, before dawn. We could bake some potatoes first, and pack them up for snack when we make brake there, and some as offering for my friend that lives on that island. You are not hungry anymore, and you are warmer. I thought, now is best time to suggest the trip, before you insist on the third glass. "