August 1, 2014

Despite having been up fairly late the night before, Doran was out of bed with the dawn. Truth be told, he hadn't slept all that peacefully; his dreams were disturbingly vivid. Not terrifying or violent, far from it.

Enticing, perhaps, was the word. That, or confusing. Or both.

Heading out of the manor, he made for the stables. Nobody was around—except perhaps Errtu, but the drow lad tended to keep himself to himself anyway—and that suited Doran fine. He just wanted a solo ride to help clear his head, empty out the images that lingered from the night before.

As he rode out across the fields, memories drifted past him. It started with Katt. Oh, he'd made such a fool of himself! She was always pretty to him, with her eyes and her smile, but....for the first time, he'd noticed her as a girl instead of as a friend. The shape of her, her curves....and suddenly Doran had been lost for words. She had to hate him now, the way he'd been acting.

Suddenly he pulled the reins, drawing Greycloud up short. Lord and Lady, the youth swore in his head, Clayton is going to shred me!

"What's on your mind?" Velen asked when his greeting had elicited nothing but brooding silence. "Or did you just come all the way out here to admire that spectacular sunset?"

Doran just rolled his eyes at that. "Like you'd understand." Then he blinked, realizing just how stupid that sounded given who he was with, and turned to look at his elder self. "Well, I guess you would, a bit. I'm just....it's all a confusing mess sometimes. I can barely control my own feelings, and then there's everyone else crowding in on me at all the wrong moments. How did you handle it?"

"Well, Father locked me up in a tower for a bit, but Maggie broke me out."

The younger lad blinked. "Really?"

"No." Velen flashed a grin, but it quickly faded when he spied the frown on Doran's face. "Sorry, couldn't resist." A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "I'll be honest, sometimes it did feel like I was in a tower. I stayed at home a lot, played my music....I did that a lot, learned different instruments."

Shaking his head, Doran looked a bit sad. "That sounds lonely."

His 'brother' gave a little shrug. "There were the other kids at the manor, of course; you know how crowded that can be, and being around them helped me rein in my gifts and get them under control. Then there were my friends, Melly and Addie and Errtu and, of course, Maggie. By the time I hit mid-teens, we were taking off and roaming the countryside, getting into all nature of mischief, righting wrongs, helping out where we could."

Velen climbed up and over the fence, heading towards a copse of trees across the field. As he walked, he looked back and motioned for Doran to follow. "Come on." Together they walked down the hill and into the little grove. "This is the one." He patted the trunk of a large, many-branched tree. "We built a little hideaway up in those branches, just a place to meet away from prying adult eyes, to talk and share secrets and stories." A moment of silence hung in the air. "Had my first kiss there, too."

Midsummer Festival Kickoff Sunday evening, 6/19

It was the scent of food that drew her in and sure enough she was trying to keep to the shadows of the many food stalls. So many foods, most of them she had never seen before. The drab fabric that was the cloak she wore was pulled close to both keep the sun off and keep her hidden away.

There were way too many people. That was good" and bad. Clenching on the cloak, she started to move about the booths, poking her head around the corner of one or another to see what there was and if she could sneakthief some food without being caught.

Fingers pawed lightly at what was a bread..nudging it close" closer still" until it was close enough to be snatched up. Victorious in this simple act, she retreated back around the stall and watched on' another target somewhere. More food to sneakthief.

——-

Doran had started to get in line for dunking his dad, but something caught his eye. "....Katt?" he whispered to himself. It looked like Katt, but....too young. His own age, maybe a year or two older. Some de-aging effect, or" he considered his own experience with time-displaced alternate selves.

——-

Andu spotted the figure hiding near the booths, and gave her a nod. "Hrmm' I wonder if anyone would help me decide what to try here, and help me eat it, so I can try more?"

Spotted, it seemed, by Andu, she blinked her doe-like eyes at him and shoved the bread in her mouth. Nothing to see here!

The minotaur chuckled and limped his way to the ice cream booth, ?accidentally' dropping a coin on the bakery stall's counter.

It took a little doing to swallow down the mouthful of bread and a single eye closed with the effort. Yeah she was kind of eating like she was afraid someone was going to take it away' probably was the reason.

Maggie had waved to Doran and" Katt earlier, but in the crowd, things got missed. She shrugged, something felt strange in the crowd, so, the girl stuck close to her Gran and Aja.

Now towelled off from the dunk tank and changed into a dry shirt, Ebon made his way over to Colleen and Maggie and the rest. "Evening, all!"

"I was gonna come over and dunk you, but I needed food." Maggie gave Ebon a cheeky smile.

"No worries, food is important....and you're not the only one who seems to have skipped out on dunking me." He glanced around. "Has anyone seen my son' I'd promised him a pork plate from Matadero if he sank me, but he never showed up in line."

A little giggle escaped Maggie's lips. "Doran's got a date!" She upnodded toward the woman she thought was Katt for Ebon. The man just blinked. Then blinked again. Seeing his reaction, she asked, "What?"

"Doran has a date?" Ebon turned to look where Maggie had indicated, and saw Doran and a young woman standing near the Gator's Tail stall. "Huh."

Maggie had both arms bent at her elbows, her palms were turned upward, and her face had a bemused look on it. "Could be a date, might not be. I'm ten, dating isn't in my experience book, yet!"

Ebon was still watching Doran and his newfound companion from a distance. Something about the girl seemed familiar, but he couldn't really get a good look at her. Then he heard a voice saying his name, and turned to see Rhi and Eregor had joined those around him. "Hmm?"

One of Eregor's eyebrows went up. "Ground Control to Major Ebon."

"Copper for your thoughts?" added Rhi. tilting her head as she studied Ebon.

"He's just watchin' Doran and his....date." Maggie giggled merrily.

"Oh, sorry....Doran seems to have made a new friend." He gestured down the row of stalls, opposite from whence the two had come. Looking, Rhi mentioned that the girl seemed familiar.

Eregor followed Rhi's gaze, then shifted his perceptions a tad and blinked in surprise. "Huh. She has an aura like Pearl or Velen."

Having heard Eregor's comment, Ebon frowned and reached out mentally to his son. Doran, are you all ri-

I'm fine, Pa. That was unexpected, but he could tell that Doran wasn't being snippish, just focused on something else. Understood. Then Ebon turned to his companions. "I don't think he's ready to introduce her, yet."

——-

After a moment, Doran reached into his belt pouch and drew a small piece of carved jade, in the shape of a horse. Clutching it in his fist, he closed his eyes as if with intense concentration, then opened them and handed the figurine to Sylva. "Here. Keep this. If you're ever hungry, or cold, or sick....hold it, and think of me. I'll know, and I'll come help you. It won't work unless you want it to, so you don't have to worry about me sneaking around your caves uninvited."

A piece of shiny thing. She didn't take it at first and shook her head. "Thank you but you do not have to trouble yourself."

"It's not troubling myself. I just....I'd worry if I didn't know you had some way of getting help or comfort when you needed it. You're a person, just like I am, and my father raised me to be good to people in need."

She stared at him like she didn't know what to make of him. It was because she didn't. "I" am not a person. I 'm a tool." But she was not going to argue with him. Instead she reached out and finally took the stone. If anything she could find some way to pay him back for the food and call him to give him said payment. "Whoever got you to think that way, Sylva....they're wrong. You are much more than a tool." Doran smiled, then nudged the to-go box of jambalaya towards her. "Don't forget your food. Enjoy it!" With that, he stood and bowed to her, almost courtly, and stepped back to give her an opening to escape in her own fashion.

Tonight was a lot of firsts for her. He bowed to her and would find when he rose up that she was simply staring. She eventually bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you, Lord Doran." The box was hugged close and the drab cloak pulled over it to keep it safe. She retreated in the silence she had arrived earlier that night, a lot more confused but a lot less hungry.

After watching her slip into the shadows, Doran turned and made his way back down the stalls to where his father was waiting. "Well, that was interesting."

"Who was that?" asked Ebon.

"She called herself Sylva....and she's had a rough life so far." There was a finality to his tone that surprised Ebon. "Let's go home. Oh, and Pa" Next time you see Katt, let her know that I want to talk to her."

((The "Meeting Sylva" posts were drawn from live play between Sylva and Doran Ilnaren, with a few additional bits from Andu Kirost, Azure Ilnaren. Mairead Harker, Rhiannon Brock, Eregor, and Ebon Ilnaren. Thanks to all!))

"I know it hurts." That wasn't a question. "That's my gift, after all....sensing feelings, emotions. Sometimes they scream in my head, loud enough that I want to cry out, to reach out and make it stop. Your pain....is quieter. You endure, and that's no easy task." Having finshed with the ointment, he lay a series of gauze pads along the wound to keep it covered, and taped them down with that wonderful medical tape that holds but doesn't pull when removed. "You can admit to your pain without letting it control you. I admire that."

Her eyes turned up to his face. He could hear her in his head" Her lips thinned briefly as if she were trying to piece together how she felt about that. "I was taught that showing pain is weakness. That I never show pain." She would get beat if she did!

"My father taught me that pain has its purpose, to let you know that your body isn't at its top shape. The weakness isn't in admitting or showing pain, but rather in giving in to the first sign of it and letting the pain control you. If you don't accept your pain, then you can't learn from it." He nodded at the now-bandaged gash on Sylva's face, then turn to her arm. "That may need to be set.:

"Be..set?" Sylva looked to her arm confused then up to him. Ow....ow....She made a face as he bandaged her face and she tried to sit up better to make it easier for him.

Examining the arm gingerly, Doran nodded back. "Yes, the bone is broken and the pieces are at an angle to each other. I'll need to straighten it and put a splint on your arm to keep the bone in place, or it'll heal crooked and need to be rebroken." Sapphire-blue eyes met green. "That WILL hurt, at least until it's straight. Let me know when you're ready."

She watched him move her arm. She understood what he meant and her eyes turned up to meet his. Nodding slowly to show she understood, she flattened her hand to the porch to steady herself. While she didn't know exactly what he was going to do, she knew she had to brace for it!

"What I wouldn't give for x-ray vision, or a sonic," Doran muttered, lightly holding her arm and then, with a firm but easy motion, pulled and quickly shifted the bone, straightening the arm and aligning the break more cleanly, Closing his eyes, he reached out with his gift, reaching for that pain that Sylva was enduring, looking for anything sharp, raw, new. There was the throb of old pain, of the original break....but no sense of anything fresh, as might come from jagged edges of bone digging into muscle and sinew. "I think I got it," he said with a smile, opening his eyes. "I would recommend a healer take a look at it soon, though. Just in case."

Sylva's body tensed when he pulled and she felt the bone grinding against flesh and meat to find its place. She didn't mean to but she growled at him like she was ready to bite his head off. It took a lot to not shove off from her spot. What pain there was for him to read before was howling out but it seemed he managed to set it properly. It was a good thing he was holding on, however, because she swayed a bit like she was about to topple over.

"Easy. You've lost blood."

"No...healer." It would only cause more pain and she didn't want anymore of that at the moment. She was pretty sure she couldn't handle more of it. "S-sorry."

Looking closer, Doran noticed some other deep cuts, and as he reached for a fresh cloth and water, he finally posed the question. "What happened" Who or what were you up against?"

She was glad he didn't push for a healer. She would eventually go out and find a small animal to feed from and hopefully free herself of the pain. At his question she frowned. "Armored person." She didn't know since they were clanned in armor from head to toe.

"What, like a knight or something" Why?"

"Something," she mumbled. "Hurt Jonigan and his friend," she mumbled more and leaned her head forward. She was trying to hide the fact she was frowning.

Doran started cleaning those other gashes, and if Sylva's modesty was in peril, well, he paid it no attention, focusing on his task and the conversation. She seemed find up until he was cleaning her side in which she twitched and sat straight up. The look she gave him was nothing short of being startled. "What' What'd I do"!"

"Thhh..." She raised her good hand like she was going to rub at her side. "Felt ..weird."

"Sorry." He hadn't been near anywhere sensitive, as it were....wait. Was she ticklish' He filed that in the back of his brain for later. "I'll be more careful." The wound on her shoulder seemed the least at the moment, so he focused on her sides and torso. "It doesn't look like they cut any vital organs or major blood vessels." As he cleaned, he examined for signs of internal damage.

She shook her head a single time. "Not meant to kill." She licked her bottom lip, attempting to find the right word. "Incapacitated." That was the word the woman used. She watched him, maybe a bit too closely, like she was attempting to figure something out.

"Well, it certainly did that." Out came the ointment again, slathered across her injuries. Catching her eyes on him, he looked up. "What?" She made a face when she felt the sting again but there was no sound that came from her. When he looked up she blinked at him and turned her eyes with a small headshake. He didn't push, though he wanted to....instead, he sighed and turned his focus back to tending her wounds. More gauze pads, larger ones, and then he took an Ace bandage and began wrapping it around her, tight enough to keep the padding in place but loose enough to allow the wounds—and Sylva—to breathe. "No broken ribs, at least not that I can tell."

When he leaned close to wrap her in the bandage she, at first, moved away. Eventually she stopped in order to let him finish but she kept her head turned away. She was able to breathe fine so she was sure there was no broken ribs. Just super sore. "Thank you....Doran."

May 31, 2017

Doran was enjoying an evening to himself....not that he minded companions, but now and then it was nice to walk the world by oneself to see what wonders—or mischief—could be found. So an afternoon roaming the streets of Old Market wound down at Teas'n Tomes, where he could enjoy a cup of something warm and a snack, along with a good book or two.

Of course, he expected something exciting would turn up. It often did.

Stepping away from the counter with a mug in one hand and a croissant-bearing plate in the other, he glanced around to locate a suitable table....and then stopped when he spied the figure settled—or perhaps unsettled—in the beanbag. It was fortunate that he tended to dampen his empathic perceptions in public—and that Renna was never an easy "read" anyway—because the pain in her face was clear as day.

It was the most darkest day of Renna's life. The beanbag really didn't reflect her mood. It showed all kinds of smiley faces from the :D to the :P. She never saw him coming. She was so absorbed in her own world that she turned the next page and continued on.

"Good evening, Renna." Doran's voice was soft, as non-intrusive as possible, since he didn't want to startle her.

At that, he failed utterly.

"****INGCHRIST!" Her hands scrambled the book closed as she wiggled in the beanbag to the point her rear sounded like it rubbbed against a thousand rice-grains trapped against their own kin. "D-Doran' I was expecting someone else—-female!" She glared.

"Sorry, sorry....I'm sorry, Renna. I didn't mean to disturb you."

She sucked in a breath. "No. It's fine." She smiled. "Anything for you."

Sitting in an armchair nearby, Doran set the tea and pastry down on the table beside him. "Waiting for a friend?"

Renna opened her mouth to speak, then looked down to her lap. To her book. "I have no friends, Doran."

"Well, now, that's not true. Don't be silly. I'm your friend."

Her gaze blinked away. "Even though I kidnapped you," she mused. She kept bringing that up. Inside joke" "Doran." She looked to the kid. "It's funny."

"My sister, actually....and yes, you did. You scared her....but you didn't hurt her. Pa said after it was all over that if you hadn't done that, Cain might've had someone else take her, someone who wouldn't have been as....generous." The lad took a sip from the tea. "What's funny?"

"You thought I targeted your sister?" she mused.

"At the time, I didn't know what to think, all I knew was that Azure was missing, taken into the sewers. And, to be fair, you were a trifle more villainous then, compared to now."

Tears fell from Renna's eyes. "I wish I could say I am sorry. But I am not. Do I regret saving your sister" No. Because I kidnapped you." She whispered. "The plan was to gain your trust."

"Oh?" With his now-arched eyebrow and stoic expression, Doran never resembled his father more.

"You're my friend, right?" asked Renna.

"Yes." There was a brief pause, and then he nodded. "I'd say that I am."

"I was going to give you to the Bhaalites."

"The plan was to give me over to Ol' Bocce Bhaal?" His expression grew bemused, though whether at the nickname or the idea, that was unclear.

"Yes."

The youth was thoughtful for a long moment, and then he spoke, deadpan. "Well, that would have put a damper on our friendship." His eyes turned back to Renna. "So why didn't you try?"

"I decided to give someone else."

((adapted from live play with Renna))

January 13, 2018

Seeing a light in the treehouse window, Doran rode over and from the manor and peered up. A movement of shadow against the shade brought a smile to his lips. "She's still awake." Dismounting, he sent his horse back to the stable—an order with which it happily complied, given the frigid air—and then made his way up the steps to the porch landing.

Gently he knocked upon the door. "Sylva" It's Doran....are you still up?" There was a rustle of movement, and then the door opened to reveal Sylva, still dressed in her work clothes. She blinked once, and then again, before stepping aside with a gesture to come in. "Thank you!" he said as he came in, shaking off the chill. "Long day?"

"It was as long as all the others." She shrugged and sat down upon the couch, which was made up with pillow and blanket already. Her little kitten was curled up on the couch back, watching them with sleepy eyes.

After all this time, Doran still wasn't sure when she was truly being literal-minded, or when she was just teasing him. He chuckled and sat down beside her. "You've been working an awful lot, you know. I was surprised to see you still awake."

Sylva leaned against him, not quite snuggling. "It was busy with deliveries. A lot of people wanted baklava. Have you ever had that?"

"Yes, Aunt Ariana makes it sometimes. It's good."

"I had a piece today. I liked it!"

Doran flashed a grin. "One of the advantages of working for a food place....access to snacks!" His expression grew more serious. "I just don't want to see you burn yourself out, working too hard. You can take it easy, y'know."

Straightening from her lean, Sylva turned to him and then reached out to poke him gently in the chest. "You take it easy, Mister Busy Body! You spend so much tiime in lessons, at the theater or the academy or here at your home, and that's on top of training, and chores, and when you've got a part it's even worse. Don't talk to me about taking it easy."

Eyebrows high, Doran found himself at a loss for words until he just had to laugh. "You're right, you're right....I'm not really one to talk, am I" I don't know how you put up with me!"

"I like you, silly."

"Well, that's good because I like you, too....a lot." He leaned forward and touched foreheads with Sylva, that gesture that matched a kiss where she was raised. "We should take some time off together soon, maybe catch a show or visit the museum, whatever you want."

Her response was interrupted by a small yawn. "Right now, I want to get some sleep. Will..." She hesitated for a moment. "Will you play for me?"

Doran raised an eyebrow. "You need music to help you fall asleep?"

She shook her head. "No, but I like it when you play." Stretching out, Sylva slipped her feet behind his back, and smiled dreamily when he stood and pulled the blanket up over her. The kitten stirred and crept down to nestle in the crook of her arm.

Picking up a little piccolo from the desk, Doran lifted it to his lips and began to play softly. The melody filled the room, soothing away the stress from a busy day, and soon Sylva and her feline companion were sound asleep. He kept playing for a long while afterwards, and when the music finally stopped, he turned off the lamp and slipped into bed, letting the hush of winter slumber settle over the treehouse

5 September, south side of Old Market near the river

The night was dark and overcast, with both moons merely hazy shapes barely discernible through the clouds. Still, the rain was holding off, which meant that Rhydin's streets were busy yet, between late evening shoppers and night folk. The streets were abuzz with discussion of the upcoming election, the weekend festivities for Citizens Day, and the recent book burnings and missing people. In some ways, the activity across the city was going on in spite of the disappearances.

Not all the passages throughout Rhydin were bustling, though. Some were quiet, even peaceful, while others lay in resless silence, disturbed only by the furtive noises of those who preferred to go unseen. Dark cloth rustled softly as three figures slipped down a backstreet alley, on the hunt and intent on their prey.

The young couple ahead of them was oblivious to their danger, focused solely on each other, their thoughts romantic, even erotic, and an aura of glamour surrounded them. The three dark-clad hunters edged closer, one of them clearly directing the others with swift gestures. Still heedless of the threat, their prey kissed and then one gestured to conjure a flower for the other, getting a brilliant smile in return. Seeing that, the leader of the hunting party sneered, and raised a hand, ready to signal.

"Good evening!" The voice rang out, bright and clear, from the other end of the alleyway. A young man stood there, silhouetted against the street lights. "You may all go now!"

Startled, the couple looked down the alley at the speaker, and then in the dim light they spied the three who had been set to take them, and gasped in shock. The interruption had left their stalkers frozen for a moment, and the pair took the opportunity to rush out into the safety of better-lite and more populated avenues.

Deprived of their targets, the hunters rounded on the intruder, two of them gazing at him with stone-faced expressions while the third, their leader, narrowed her eyes. Unperturbed, the youth approached them, his face as unreadable as a master gambler in a high-stakes poker game. As he drew closer, a faint sapphire-blue glow could be seen in his eyes, and the woman smirked, seeing that perhaps their efforts would not go wasted tonight. "You interfere with our righteous crusade, boy. Sinners must be punished....as you will be! Name yourself, that we may know whose wicked soul we will be purging."

One of the young man's eyebrows arched elegantly as he stepped into the circle of light from a lamp high above. "That's not a very polite introduction," he mused, lips twitching into a grin. "Doran Ilnaren, at your service. And you....you're some of those book-burning nuns, aren't you?"

"We serve Our Lord faithfully, unlike your ilk who have dragged this city into sin and wickedness." As she spoke, the other two moved to either side, ready to come at Doran like pincers of a lobster's claw. "You're a fool, boy, to face us alone."

"Do tell." Then something flashed in Doran's eyes, and a wave of pain washed over the nuns.

Caught unaware, the leader of the trio doubled over as searing agony flooded her senses. "Aaaah! Get him!" The other two, seemingly unaffected by the empathic assault, blinked once and then rushed at him from both sides.

It had been Doran's turn to be caught by surprise when only one of the nuns fell to his psionic attack. Their instant of confusion, however, gave him time to recover, and he quickly withdrew a small cylinder from his belt. With a quick shake, the cylinder sprang out to form a Minbari fighting pike, and he struck left, then right, catching one nun in the gut and then smashing the other across her jaw, which broke with an audible crack. Disconcertingly, neither of them seemed to be adversely affected by the blows, and Doran was forced to backpedal when they rounded on him and kept coming. Then he stumbled, and the one to his left grabbed his pike, jerking it free from that hand. Snarling, the two of them struggled for control of the weapon, but the other nuns were soon upon him.

The pike was torn from Doran's grip and then jabbed hard into his chest. He dropped his head, straining to catch his breath, while the lead nun turned as whistles sounded in the distance. "The Watch, roused at last, but too late. You will burn for your sins, foolish boy, burn forever. I told you, you should not have faced us alone."

"Alone?" There was an odd echo in the lad's voice, and when he looked up at her, the blue glow in his eyes fairly gleamed. "Who said he was alone?" With that, a ghostly form burst from Doran's body, and then another and another, unsettled spirits now circling around them all. "Foul woman, you and yours have defiled the peace of this city, and we say enough! You are the ones who deserve to burn....and you SHALL!"

As Doran slumped back, the alley walls echoed with the screams of the robed women as the raging ghosts enacted their own justice.

* * *

Someone shook Doran and he roused to consciousness, his nostrils greeted with the gut-wrenching scent of burnt hair and scorched flesh. "What hap-?"

"That's what I was going to ask you, kid." The Watch officer crouching beside him turned to look over his shoulder, where three charred bodies in well-singed robes lay. "I came into the alley to see a bunch of glowing folks swarming all over, and those three sisters going up like torches. Looks like they were some of those whacked-out nuns we've been trying to round up, which makes dying like that more than a little ironic."

"It seems that you're not the only one that thinks so," replied Doran as the officer helped him to his feet. "There are more than a few ghosts in this city, and I'd say that they aren't too happy with those ladies right now. Ironic justice, indeed."

((cross-posted from here))

Saturday, 21 September

....shards....ice and fire, shadows grow....elements unleashed....

Murmuring while he slept, Doran turned and twisted in his bed, his fingers clutching the sheets as though his very life depended on it. Suddenly his eyes flew open and a sharp gasp escaped his lips. A glance out the window told him that it was still night, as moonlight shone down to blanket the room. The youth swung his feet over to sit upon the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes to try and drive out the dream, the disturbing vision that had woken him.

But why' What could it mean"

Rising from bed, he put on moccasins and a robe, and slipped out of the room, treading softly down the hall so as not to wake anyone else at the manor. Once outside, he headed out across the fields, following an unseen path he knew by heart. Soon enough he had reached the copse at the fields' edge, and started up the spiral stairway to the tree house above. The door opened with a faint creak, and he entered quietly, not wishing to disturb the young woman sleeping within.

"Doran' What?" Not quietly enough, it seemed, as Sylva stirred and turned to look up at him.

"Sorry, Sylva. I didn't mean to wake you, I just..." His voice trailed off as words and excuses failed him. "I couldn't sleep. I had a dream."

Sitting up with the sheet held close to her chest, she looked at him with equal parts curiosity and concern. "You" What about?"

He shook his head and sat at the edge of the bed, "I'm not sure. It almost felt like I was feeling echoes of other dreams, other visions. I can't really make any sense of it. There were flashes of color, elemental forces. Shards of glass scattered all about." He shrugged helplessly. "It was a dream, they have their own logic. I just-" He paused for a moment. "I just didn't want to go back to sleep alone."

With a smile, Sylva scooted over to make room, and Doran crawled in beside her, letting her wrap her arms around him as if to keep him safe.

Together they drifted off to sleep, but in the depths of Doran's dreamscape, the light of five shining stones glittered in the darkness.

October 22, 2019

Renna told me to give you this. To protect yourself. From her.

With his father's words echoing in his mind, Doran stared at the box sitting in his lap, or more accurately at its contents. A gun. She had sent him a gun. Was he supposed to just take it at face value and everything would be all well and good once more" No, of course not. The Betrayer—he couldn't even think her name anymore—had to have an ulterior motive.She *always* had plans, plans within schemes within plots.

So why in all the hells would she give him a gun that could kill her"

There was a knock on his bedroom door. "Come in."

It opened to reveal Cratos, wearing his usual grin. "Your pa said to tell you that dinner will be ready in a little bit." The Cormyran youth stepped inside, intrigued by whatever gripped his friend's attention. "What's that?" When Doran made no reply, he edged closer and peered down. "Wicked. Where'd you get that?"

Doran looked up, his expression stony. "It was a gift from the Betrayer." When comprehension failed to dawn on Cratos' face, he sighed and elaborated. "Renna."

Now that name, Cratos had heard before, from tales told by Doran, Ebon, and even young Azure. His usual cheer faded, and he drew back a step. "Her"! Why?"

"That, my friend, is the question. According to Pa, she meant me to use it to protect myself, my family, those I love."

"From what?" asked Cratos.

"From her." Doran shook his head slowly. "She was a terror to this city, time and again....but over time, she changed, seemingly reborn into a kinder, more peaceful soul. She became-" His voice suddenly broke off, and he closed the box lid, setting it aside before rising. "Renna was my friend. She seemed happy. Then....it all went bad again. She tried to kill Pa, swore service to Bhaal. She betrayed me! How can she expect me to trust anything she says or does now?"

His auburn bangs hung down over his eyes as Cratos pondered the question. "You told me once that nobody is just one person inside. If there was ever a part of her that you could trust and call friend, trust that part of her. I know what it's like to want to protect a friend. Maybe that part truly wants to protect you from the rest of her." Beat. "Or maybe it's all a trick. Trust, but don't trust blindly."

That actually made Doran grin, then laugh softly. "When did you get so wise?"

"It's all part of my winning outlook on life! Now come on, I'm hungry and I can smell the roast down in the oven." Cratos stood and headed for the door, then turned back and pointed to the closed box. "I hope you have a safe place for that."

Doran nodded, picking up the box and placing it in a small safe that rested on the bottom of one bookshelf. "Pa already thought of that. Come on, let's go eat!"

October 24, 2019

Sylva was just making her way through the marketplace - yes at this late hour. It helped avoid certain places and kept her mind on things like 'oh look. pretty thing in the window there'. She did a whole lot of window shopping but not really much shopping-shopping.

Over by the fountain stage, Doran leaned against a post, and the music of his flute drifted through the night air. There were a few folk who stopped to listen, pausing for a moment on their way home, or to the nearest tavern, depending on how they preferred to end their day. He would occasionally spy a listener who seemed particularly enrapt, and play to them awhile, until they smiled, or blushed, and moved on.

Music. It did pull her from the depths of her pondering and from the shiny in a window. She was well aware that Doran was not the only one who played the flute but it still drew her. As she drifted closer she indeed saw it was the young man who was playing. Clasping her hands behind her back she drifted closer but not enough to be in the small crowd of people that gathered. She was listening but she seemed to be watching him more intensely than she was listening.

He felt her presence long before he saw her. She shone within his perception like a blazing bonfire, unable to be ignored. Still, Doran played to his auddience, but as he played, he incorporated some of the tunes crafted while helping Sylva with her dancing. The tempo was akin to a body's rhythm. The drawing of a breath, the beat of a heart, the subtle play of muscles as they moved.

It didn't take her long at all to realize that he was mingling some of the tunes in - like he was saying hello to her with music and a smile began to bloom. Slowly her hands unclasped and her gaze softened. Whatever she was thinking about may have lingered but it was now somewhere in the depths of other things. If anything, Sylva was patient. She'd watch as people left, obviously talking about the melodies they had heard.

Soon enough the fountain courtyard was empty, save for Doran onstage and Sylva at the edge. Now he turned his gaze towards her as he played, and the tune became something new. It was not one that she had ever heard before; indeed, not one he had ever played. This was a melody born from Doran's soul, full of the feelings he had for her, his heart laid bare in music.

She squinted at a couple as they left, apparently the last to leave. The music wooed her attention back to Doran and she blinked. That was a new song as far as she knew. Tipping her head to the side she listened and eventually drew closer to him.  For a moment, just a moment, she met his gaze but after that she lowered her eyes.

Finally the trilling of the flute rose to a flourishing crescendo, peaked, and faded. Doran lowered the instrument and jumped down from the stage, walking over to stand before Sylva. He drew her gently into his arms, and leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers.

Music didn't feel as difficult as words, maybe that was why she liked it so much. Not that she could play a tune to save her life. Staring at her feet, she focused on not the one who played it but the melody that was created. As the music faded she became more aware that he was on the move and she looked up just in time to be embraced. Instinct had her wrapping her arms around him. Small things like the forehead tap made her smile. He didn't think her weird for her differences. It was..nice. "That was beautiful," she murmured to him about the song.

"I was inspired by you, that's why." He pulled his head back to look at her, but didn't let go of the embrace. "I'm sorry if I've been a dumb-dumb lately. Not sure how to say what I feel, hesitating, too worried about how people might look at us." He held her gaze and smiled. "I should have simply spoken from the heart, the same way I play for you. I love you, Sylva, and I am yours for as long as you will have me."

Geh! Ebon spilled the beans! Or Rhi. Or Gory. She almost groaned out loud as her arms dropped. "Worried about how people might look at us?" Her brows began to drift down but stopped and instead shot up. Like disappearing under her bangs, up. "Wh-what? D-Doran. You..You don't need to say that. I am sorry for what I told your da. Don't feel like you have to say anything like that to me!" She was practically stumbling over her own words.

"What you told..." Pa didn't say anything to me about you." He raised an eyebrow, looking very much like his father's son in that moment, and grinned. "I'm saying it because it's how I feel. You make me happy when you look at me, your smile brightens my heart and your voice soothes my soul."

Her face went red when it seemed Ebon didn't say anything and only seemed to go moreso red the more he spoke. Poor Sylva looked like a red balloon about ready to pop. Her mouth opened and slowly closed. She was lost on words. "Why...did you seem hesitant to call me girlfriend when I met Yuino?"

It was his turn to redden at that question. "I wasn't sure if you would be comfortable, being introduced like that." He shrugged. "It's silly, I know, I've called you that before. It's just, at that moment....I didn't want to treat you like a trophy."

That is where it confused her. She tipped her head as she peered at his face. "Have I given you reason to think I thought you were treating me like that?"

"...no." He actually hung his head a bit. "Like I said, I was a dummy."

She practically melted and released a loud breath. "I thought I had done something wrong and made you not like me no more." She was soooo happy to know otherwise and her arms went around to hug him tight. For like two seconds then he was released and she shuffled back. "Um..." was mumbled and she dug into her bag to pull out the puzzle box he should be familiar with by now. She offered it out to him.

With a quizzical look, he took the puzzle box and held it. "I never did figure out how to open this."

Her lips pursed briefly before she nodded. "I..know. I took out what was inside. That was actually suppose to be your birthday gift. But....I....chickened out. But then I, um..." She reached back into her bag and pulled out a small folded piece of paper and offered it to him. "I was....Um....going to put this one in there before giving it back to you."

He took the note, looking a little shamefaced. Then he read it.

And he read it again.

When I first made this box I had put a note inside for you to find. It said "like you lots". As weeks and days went by that feeling became a known and grew more. It scared me because I don't know how to be normal and say things right. I do know I am thankful for you and you have done so much for me I can't put it all on this tiny paper. When you didn't figure out the puzzle I took the puzzle and put this paper in instead. Maybe you will figure it out. Maybe you won't. Maybe I will be brave enough to tell you one day that I don't think I like you lots. I think I am in love with you. So if I act weird, I am sorry. Tell me to stop. K" K! Congrats on figuring out my weird birthday gift to you!

~Sylva

Doran's jaw dropped. "I- I- I-" Beat. "I am the luckiest man in the multiverse."

She looked confused when he looked like that. Puzzles were hard so it isn't like she was upset that he didn't figure it out. That confusion bled nervousness and she subconsciously took a step or two back. "Huh?"

"You love me." It was a simple statement, but Doran's voice seemed to swell with heartfelt emotion as the meaning of those words filled him.

Hearing him say it like that made her red in the face again. She nodded softly and she tugged on the end of her shirt.  "I do love you, Doran. I just wasn't sure if it was okay for me to say or feel that." Her brows slowly began to knit. Things were complicated in ways she didn't like. "Do you think people...find that weird" I mean ..us?"

"No, but even if they did, it wouldn't matter to me. You know how you feel about me, and I know how I feel about you. That's what is important."

She gave him a slightly confused look but decided not to say anything. Instead, she giggled and nodded a few times. "Okay." She exhaled again in a rush, like she had been holding her breath. "Thank you, Doran."

"Thank you, Sylva. And you're welcome."

The realization of his words earlier had hit her and she felt a bit giddy but at the same time it was counted by the nervousness in the pit of her stomach with everything. Saying those words but then warmly received.  Her stomach was all topsy turvy! Rubbing her cheek, she tried to get rid of the warmth she felt there. "How long have you been out here?"

"A while," he admitted, and shivered at Sylva's touch, though whether from that or the evening chill, he honestly couldn't say. "Do you want to go somewhere warm?"

"Yes, please!" she quickly agreed with a sheepish smile. "We should start wearing our coats, huh?"

"Well, it gives us an excuse to cuddle when we get home."

Well that didn't help the color in her cheeks none. Slowly she reached a hand out, fingers offered to him. "Does that mean you are staying tonight or just for a little while to warm up?"

He took her hand. They were a bit of a matched set, at least in terms of cheek color. "I'd like to stay."

"Okay. I'll make sure to wear socks." She did have a bad habit of tucking her cold feet under him. Opps? She grinned sheepishly and when he took her hand she leaned into him for a sort of hug before she took a step for home.


((written with Sylva))