Roderick's Call-Waiting
(*Italics denotes the entire duration of the telepathic conversation being held in this story.)

He had gone outside then, around the time of Matt Simon's title defense and the brief revelry surrounding it. Matt Simon, the man who bested Kalamere and won Battlefield Park from him when he could not. It was that more than anything else, such as his election campaign, that stuck with him. Dyarhk was not so wisely understanding. He was far simpler. And it was because of this, that he understood Matt and respected him in perhaps the best way possible; from his fists.
Anyway, out of the Outback he'd gone. 'Gone to enjoy a smoke,' he'd told them. But placing that cigar back into its case and pushing it down into a back pocket much more suited for a wallet, he headed to a wall with a very nice view of the high moon. Once arriving there, he positioned into a comfortable lean. A boot heel given up to that wall for added support with his back, and then he was crossing his arms and closing his eyes. He'd lean his head forward.

Very few, ?very? few knew he was capable of what he was about to do. It was not something he told just anyone. It was a privacy he protected very dearly. The thing that kept him alive, The Lifestealer's Folio, had more to it than just the leashed life-eating demon. Like the layered scripture it was, the Folio served several purposes beneath the flesh of Dyarhk's left shoulder blade. When in use, it was warm to the touch, and could easily be disguised as his body temperature if great attention was not being paid to it. When pulling stronger resources, such as spirit energy, the writings that it was composed of could become visible.
A spiritual text of elaborate handwriting, all devised by Seirichi's sister, Nima, the new Lilith. The other purpose the Lifestealer served was a special grant given by Nima, who assumed Dyarhk would get great use out of. Not unlike how the Lifestealer was shown who to pull spirit energy from (Seirichi), this addition to the Folio was shown Seirichi and Corea, both who became linked to a spiritual space of echoing across a private cosmos with Dyarhk as the catalyst. A private line of communication conducted with the soul's voice. That was the last and latest addition made to the Folio, but it was always open to expansion. But for now, he would patiently steer his thoughts and feelings out across their great distance, quiver a brow of concentration, and await a response.

?Sorry to barge in all of a sudden.? he said, smiling silently against that wall.

?Dyarhk?? Corea said from Adenna. The echo of a heaven-like conversation never ceasing to sweep her feet from whatever she was doing; this time being seated outside of a town restaurant under its outdoor shelter and among romantically blurry window lights both apart and separated from the restaurant as part of a loving and relaxing nighttime city standard.

?That sounds like you're calling from Rhydin. You're back over there again, aren't you.? Seirichi said, less of a threat, and as more of an aggravated discovery. Seiri had been in Adenna as well, but quite a distance from Corea. She sat out, dangerously, on the ledge of the white stone bridge of the Bridge Dragon's domain. Vertigo-inducing heights, constant winds, and dragon's snoring were all bold elements of the bridge at such a late, late hour. It was an intimacy. Because Seiri had been on her patrol did not mean she was beyond an inspiring view and thought-collecting peacetime when she could be alone. And now with this call, she decided to remain in this setting.

?I am not causing a disturbance, I hope.? Dyarhk spoke his concern over his unexpected call.

?You are not disturbing me at all, Dyarhk. I am at that rather large cafe in Little Adenna.? Corea replied. With just her voice he could tell she was happy to hear from him, putting a smile on the man's face seemingly thinking of something pleasant outside the Outback.

?So that's where you are, Corea.? Seiri said.

?I hope you were not looking for me, Seiri. I have been gone a while.? she said back painting the emotions to go with her words with her voice naturally. The particular here had been regret.

?No. You enjoy yourself. I will be home shortly. As soon as I am done here.? Seiri cast a glance across that long cold bridge while recklessly dangling a leg off the edge. ?Calling to get away from the bores of RhyDin, Dyarhk? You shouldn't take advantage of Corea and me like that.?

?Bored or not, I am sure you both understand my inability to stay away from you for any period of time. I was just observing Nayun. She is becoming so skilled in the rings here. I even think I spot an infatuation with Candy in her.? the Palliator kept his head still and his mind focused. Only his lips did change from grinning and to smiling.

?Her girlfriend?? Seiri said.

?We should probably knock that off, Seiri. You most of all. She's still young enough to develop a complex from that bullying. If she has a chance to make friends and look up to someone outside of her own culture, then we should let her.? Dyarhk said meaningfully.

?Fine... SO, Dyarhk. When are you going to really lay the ?romantic? stuff on us. Corea's getting impatient.? Seiri said with a very wide grin; so wide, it had been a pity no one was there to see it. Corea instantly sat up in her steel-grated chair of a forest green setup before a table of identical schematics. Her green eyes opened fully and a worry came over her that Seiri had moved her bullying reticle on over to ?her.?

?Where would you like me to start, Corea?? Dyarhk himself was not one beyond picking on someone. He would not do it an enduring amount of time, but he humored Seiri's taunt. She knew what he liked to use this very intimate mind-talk for.

?That is... not a necessary thing for you to do, Dyarhk. Just that you have checked up with us and told us you are okay is enough for me.? Corea paid the toll to exit the spotlight.

?I think I will start with your eyes. I do not need them before me to poeticize about. A green hue darker than my own, but apart of the same unique club. I never tire of looking into them. There lies a world there so different from our own. Nothing wrong happens there.

?There is no crime. Only beauty. You will see me gaze into them and seem lost, because I am. They have a power within them to whisk me off to a place that is only you and shuts out all else; my worries, my grief... There is only you, Corea. That is why I saw it fit to start with your eyes.? he said with a subtle smile, proud of his own writing; proud that it may have been decent enough to convey what he meant. The woman outside the little cafe seemed pierced through the heart, frozen with her teacup held before her chest and those ?poetic? eyes shaking softly at the man's words in her head.

?Geez. Lay it on thick, don't you, Dyarhk.? Seiri said, closing her own eyes to smile. She gave the man heat just because she always had, but she was helping him out here since Corea had lost her voice despite it being within her mind.

?Thank you.? Corea said. The two words were heard in all of their emotion despite their briefness. This channel of communication was a still lake and words great creators of ripples upon it. Her thanks spoke great adoration. Both Seiri and Dyarhk ?felt? it. The Lifestealer's Folio had a boldness that was powered by life, and love itself very much apart of it, thus powering it more. With their three hearts fueling the point of origin, Dyarhk's back, around the shoulder blade, shone the pure white light of the spiritual script.

?Did reception just pick up or something?? Seiri asked curiously.

?Not to bring further attention upon Corea, but the connection seems to have been strengthened proportionately to the amount of love lacing our thoughts. Take it up with Nima. I did not design this device.? a peaceful expression overtook the daydreaming man during the wrong hours.

?You're making that up!? Corea defended nervously. This only cause Seirichi to laugh out loud there on the bridge. Dyarhk controlled his smile from turning into real laughter.

?And who can forget Seirichi's eyes. Even if you weren't head over heels in love with her, somehow not attracted to her beautiful body, her eyes aren't something you forget the sight of.? Dyarhk began.

?Stop it.? Seirichi said, bullying roles having flipped on her. She was not so serious, however, she did not say it without threat. It was not a ?sweet? way of telling him to stop. She recognized how capable he was of making her feel good about herself; in-turn showing how he felt about her, and it was as genuine as it was awkward sometimes. Did he not know she was seeing Mia? Come on, now.

?I've never seen eyes without color that had so much vibrance in them. One of the first things, of many things, that will tell you right away there is something truly special about this girl.? Dyarhk said. Corea smiled and took the tiniest of sips from her tea.

?You're one hard-headed brute, aren't you, Dyarhk.? Seirichi said with a contented grin on her face like it would just be a waste of energy to try and deter him.

?The hardest.? he replied prepared.

?And you, Dyarhk...? Corea began with her own little grin of confidence. She sat her fine china upon that pink-rose saucer. ?Would you care to know what I think of first when I think of you??

?Oh boy.? Seiri said rolling her eyes and feigning disinterest, but in-fact she was glued to the woman continuing where she was going.

?This is going to be funny, isn't it.? Dyarhk said, still wearing that grin.

?No,? a smile from Corea. She was getting prepared, shifting in her seat, readying her thought words. ?You have a way about you. It is hard to explain, at first ? ?

?Excuse me, girls. Let's continue this back home. I would like that very much. I am being interrupted. It is nothing. We will talk before bed, tonight.? Dyarhk said.

?Peace.? Seirichi said, not so emotionally invested.

?Be careful.? Corea's parting words. And with that, the connection was severed. The wavey space that flooded their senses and made words echo within their very heads. She looked around at her company seated at the other table from her, and then the very back tables at the other end of the cafe porch. She sighed wearing a smile before looking out to those blurry lights in the windows on the building faces lined up all across the street, not unlike the glow that was upon her on that side of the street. With the snow in particular, It was beautiful.

Dyarhk just then came out of his trance and opened his eyes and easily reverted into a recuperative state, massaging his arm where he had been bro-punched by Roderick Douglas. ?Heheh! On your way out already? Well you two be sure to have a great night. I mean that. Be safe.? hand beside his head and then twisted in that unaligned sort of salute. His smile remained just like his eyes did on the departing couple until they were gone. Then, he pocketed his hands and began on his own walk, crunching gravel under his expensive shoes until they softly lay healthy blades of green grass down in his ever-drawing path.