Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

Svarik smirked a little. "Let him make the songs. He just became a Listener recently, he needs practice..."

[VisAnastasis]

" He didn't grow up as Listener, though, but warrior. Your and mine passion for soothing music does not run through his Veins from birth. Star Boy forced it upon him, because that was needed, at a time. " Melody remarked. " I don't think he should be like you and me, my Sunshine. For him, new gift he has is but a skill that he sees can come in handy, not a way of life... He's a poet. Lyrics of his songs are beautiful, actual music is sub-par. " she grinned. " He doesn't need practice. He needs to let go of trying to imitate us, and just do his own thing with it. Not every Listener is build to be a great healer, like you are me, my beloved. He tries to figure out how to make healing songs, and he gets stuck... I look forward to when he gives up on it, and figures out his own thing, more in line of his passions... Love songs... " she chuckled weakly. " He makes then because he likes me, not because he likes making love songs. I am sorry, but I won't encourage him in doing something he doesn't like, my sweetest cutie pie... "

[Mirach]

"I still think he needs the practice to figure out what kind of music actually suits him," Svarik said. "Do not think he will find time for himself when he doesn't make the songs for you, he will just do something else that he thinks is needed to do..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, I am aware of that, but a lass can still hope, even if hoping is unrealistic. " girl chuckled faintly. " He is really always playing with fire, my dearest Birdie. Always going out of his way to do the things he deems right. " she whispered thoughtfully, and then added slowly. " He is... Using your premade signatures and he took quite a liking to your signet ring recently. " she admitted little involuntarily. " He speaks to council, army, guards, and pretty much whole city, in your name, through letters... Since you left, he used the time to write down and sign quite few laws that already started benefiting the land, laws he was slowly writing and preparing while you were injured and recovering, my Sun. He sets them in motion now, a bit each day. He and Captain of Guards Hall Merit are weaving an appearance that you are in the city, working. That you are there, signing laws, making calls, responding to people's concerns... People are happy their king has recovered and started to do such a good work, proving to make wise and good changes... " she smiled little sadly, as she added. " Birdie has planned this trip for you for a while, after trials to those people were to end, my Sunshine, and it fell right into his schedule. He knows you always tend to underestimate time you need... So he's working carefully with all his means and new allies, and ruling in your name. He's buying you this time, so it doesn't look king just again left on holiday, but is working hard from confinement of mansion of his friend... It's tricky, but it's been working for now... Birdie prepared very well for it, from what I could see. "

[Mirach]

"From what you say I'm getting an impression he's actualy ruling better than I would..." Svarik murmured. "People might think that I got lazy when I actually come back and start working..."

[VisAnastasis]

" There's more to ruling than wearing a pretty cloak and playing music to cheery crowds, my love. There are lot of to us boring stuff, like understanding how laws function and how economy works, how to negotiate deals... Things Birdie took lot of time to learn and got very good at. " girl bemused gently. " Aren't you happy he's so good at it? You'll have a really good teacher, and while gloomy in general , I can see he is a little happy with this, too - during years, there were many things he wished to change, and now that he has you to use as his shield and can work in your name, he can actually change everything in our laws that bothered him.... As he sees it. " she paused, before adding. " I don't think unlimited power looks like it will get into his head... But he did take lot of liberty with your absence. He is dealing with lot of turmoil of his own mind, but I would like you to know, dear, that he seemed rather unexpectedly happy with this sudden surge of power since your absence. I have never seen him as content these days, as when he was seeing his labor turn fruitful... I think that is much more nutrient to him, than any music would be right now. Having control and being empowered can work wonders. Only thing that saddens me, is that I fear he may enjoy it too much, and may actually grow depressed again when you come back, and he has to give you back the steering wheel... "

[Mirach]

"So I should take a vacation more often?" Svarik smiled a little. "I will try to take it over gently, and let him have one hand on it still."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am just telling this to you, as someone who loves and cares for you both goofballs... " Melody yawned sleepily, sinking into the soft fur of Xia. " I just... Do not think an arrangement like this could last for too long. He is immortal now, and aware that this period of his life will be a distant past one day... But it is still a present now, and something grounding who he is. He is thinking dangerous thoughts... About laying low until all his former enemies just die of old age, and coming back as someone new who no enemy can recognize anymore from his treason in the army... But a person that is not Conrad Falcon. " she shared piece of her mind with Svarik with some worry. " I don't think it can be good for him. I think... I think he can be a great help to you, my Sun, and that you can have lot of fun, and good life... But that you must act sometimes soon. I fear that if you do not make a move to clear his name sooner than later, that it may be bad for him. He needs a real place at your court. He needs clear and indisputable place of power at your side. He needs an official position. He loves this city too much... He needs to live a life as Conrad Falcon, as he always wanted, not just as your shadow. "

[Mirach]

"You think I do not know that?" Svarik sighed. "I'm still trying to think of a way how it would be possible. It is a bit discouraging that he has not been able to think of any way, with his genial mind. It makes one think that there is no such way, if he wasn't able to think of it..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Yet, you're the only one who has a chance to do something - his king and someone whom he can see as friend in same time, my beloved. You are his Semai, and a special person in his life. " girl replied, with innocent, but deep and trustful conviction. She was too weak to stand up just jet, but she blew him a little kiss of encouragement with her little hands. " I believe in you, and Carol and Star Boy believed in you. " she smiled. " If anyone can do it, you can do it, Mister Sunshine... "

[Mirach]

"Carol and Star Boy?" Svarik asked uncertainly. "Do you know that they did in this specific thing? Because if people who can see the future believr in you, I guess it could mean something..."

[VisAnastasis]

" They did not specifically say it, but they tried their best to keep both of you alive, and provide you with best chances to get close to one another. You survived long night together. " girl whispered gently. " I refuse to believe those two wonderful people did their best for you, if they believed it would end so badly. They both had fondness for you, and would not  strive to lead you to path of life filled with grief of losing Birdie. I believe in their humanity, my dearest little sun... " she smiled fondly at king. " You need to believe in the Seers, otherwise, them believing in you would  not make difference... Nobody can outshine you or prevent you from saving Birdie, if you put your mind into it. Future is your for the taking. "

[Mirach]

"I guess..." Svarik nodded slowly. "If they saw it, then it's possible. And if it's possible, then I need to do it..."

[VisAnastasis]

Melody nodded. She mastered enough strength to slowly straighten into sitting position, and she reached for Svarik's hand, and pressed it weakly, in what was supposed to be a gesture of encouragement. She remained quiet like that for a moment.
" I am no Seer.... but I guess that it's possible that you and me shall have our dinner before it grows cold, and if it's possible, then we should do it... " she changed the subject gently and innocently. " Worrying now won't solve the problem. You will help Birdie, of that I am not worried, and I am sure. But right now, I would be most delighted if you would join me in trying to figure out if Sage's kitchen has blessed us with something delightful or not this evening... "

[Mirach]

"I agree," Svarik smiled, and looked at the tray with food to see if there is something without meat that he can share with Xia.

[VisAnastasis]

Vampire was very mindful of the fact that Xia got upset before about hunting and killing animals and di not want to eat animal food anymore. He only brought some tasty seashell meat Melody could eat freely, knowing that she needs lot of energy - but he packed up lot of fruit pies, fried eggs, fresh bread, mead, jams, and he even seemed to have made some special spiced milk for them himself. Vampire brought tray to them all shyly, letting them chose what they liked.

[Mirach]

Svarik took a bit of everything without meat and shared it with Xia, to show her that there are many meals that are not made from animals.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia was very wary this time about the meal, and she made sure to double check with Svarik first about origin of food he offered her, before agreeing to eat it. As it's natural, she grew to love meat and felt a bit at loss for having to doubecheck what was prior to this simple pure pleasure for her, but since she didn't actually need it to live, she seemed decisive to make it through without it. She was eating tamely from Svarik's hand, not really with pleasure as she once used to, before she had to take into account origin of food and all such unpleasantness, but she still seemed relieved there was variety too in food without meat and that she wasn't confined to only couple of dishes.
Melody was not awake at a time Xia learned of meat, so she did not understand what was problem, even if she could sense it. She sow they are choosing vegetarian food, so she took seashell meat with bread instead - Erdel tied in to help her out, letting her lean on Xia and cutting food with knife and fork and feeding her himself, so she would not exert, and she smiled at him gratefully and ate plentifully and readily, as she seemed to have been hungry since she woke up, but was too polite to stop conversation before it's done just so she could eat. After it, vampire helped her treat herself to some of the fried eggs, and then fruit pie for dessert, too.

[Mirach]

Svarik didn't eat as much as when he woke first time, and he took the time to explain Xia what each food is made from.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia listened attentively, and was content that Svarik took her ignorance of the matter into account, and wanted to help her learn more of the matter so she could be less insecure about it. She was a bit wary with seeing Melody eats meat, but she was decisive not to judge, so she just did her best to ignore it, instead listening to Svarik. In the end, she leaned head to him, and she lightly licked his cheek to mark her thankfulness and appreciation - though, in this big fluffy form, her tongue was so big she left half of king's face drenched in saliva, something that Melody and even Erdel had to chuckle on a little.

[Mirach]

Svarik smirked and went to find a towel to dry his face.  "We could go flying now, if you still want to," he told her then.

[VisAnastasis]

Once she understood the question, Xia looked at king little critically, as if trying to figure out if he really wanted that or just wanted to do it since she asked him before. Then, she slowly made sure to move bit away, so she could take form of a child without disturbing the people lying on the bed.
" *Xia**want**Svarik*joying*. " she signed firmly once she was fox child again, repeating her request, as that seemed to be her most certain pure desire right now. " *Svarik* *joying*?"

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded. "Would you like to fly a bit before having more rest?" he asked Melody.

[VisAnastasis]

" Would that make you *joying*, Mister Sunshine? " girl chuckled a little, seeming more brightened up, after she had sated her  hunger, though she still seemed very weak. " It's night, so I don't think too much flight in cold air would be good for either of us... And I can't do it for too long, as I won't be able to hold on too well - I may have given a little more of myself this time than was wise... " she admitted shyly. " But if it's just a short flight, maybe I could..."
" Would that be wise, sire? " vampire tied in hesitantly. " I think tomorrow, maybe, should be better for that... But now, I really think lady Melody should rest, sir. I could... stay watch over her, sir... So you and Xia could catch a bit of fresh air instead... "

[Mirach]

"I just need some fresh air," Svarik said. "I think it would do good to Melody as well, if we just fly over the city and back. You could lean on me. It depends on how you feel though," he smiled at Melody. "I wish to help, not strain you."