Old Acquaintances in New Guises [Kiwi!] *Finished*

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel's wide eyes stared skeptically at the woman. No one needed to understand the inner workings of another being's mind to know that this Card was protesting just a little too much. Obviously Kel had strong feelings for her Queen, even if those feelings weren't returned. Maybe they would be someday, but Lariel made an educated guess that today wasn't that day...or it was more complicated than that.

She lowered her eyes to the table again, shifting in her chair uncomfortably. She'd seen the downcast look on the Skunk's face and felt a twinge of guilt for what she'd said. Normally she didn't care how her words affected others, but be it an inkling toward aquaintenceship or a small care for those of her homeland...she did feel bad about it.

Lariel hopped out of her chair and padded slowly towards the Skunk. In a very uncharacteristic fashion, Lariel put a paw on the woman's knee in support. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

[seraaches]

Kel jumped when Lariel touched her, though it was solely because she hadn't realized the bobcat had moved. Her pale blue eyes were wide for a long moment, before her surprise faded enough to soften her gaze as she smiled rather sadly at the other woman.

"Thank you for your concern." The soft-spoken words couldn't fully convey just how touched the woman was by the other Ranger's kindness. She briefly chewed on her lip, trying to decide how to proceed. "It's difficult to explain how our relationship works," she finally said softly. "But he's already found the perfect woman." Her smile was sad. "I'm not her. But Calia is truly a dream; no one could blame him for any preference he may have." And she believed that to the bottom of her heart.

[Kiki]

Lauryn and Sera receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe. This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe. Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel pulled her chair to sit next to Kel, having already used up all of her physical contact time she could stand. There would be no hugging, but she could afford to be attentive and supportive. She had herself positioned and ready to listen by the time the Skunk began, as Lariel knew she would.

The Bobcat felt the others' pain, and marveled at it. She could count the Cards she knew and actually cared about on one hand, so why was she feeling this great amount of sorrow for someone she'd only met as a child? She tried to concentrate solely on the pain of this woman before her, but she still couldn't help marveling at these rare feelings of caring. She had never personally loved someone who didn't love her back. The whole situation was alien to her, but she did her best to understand and sympathize.

"Haven't you ever considered fighting for him, instead of just letting someone else win?" Lariel asked. Another situation she couldn't understand; conceding a fight that hadn't ended yet.

[seraaches]

Kel's ears flipped up in surprise at the suggestion and she faced the other Sorgaire Range woman for a long moment of almost bafflement. Fight for him? Fight? Her eyes dropped as she thought about this suggestion. Her voice was almost rueful when she answered.

"Perhaps if it was anyone else but him and anyone else but Calia. . ." She blushed to look up at Lariel with a self-effacing expression. "Mnem says I'm weak, but. . ." Her eyes had to slip away again as she continued admitting about her life to the woman. "Calia really is a dream come true, Lariel. Anyone would be fortunate to be with her and. . . I just really want him to be happy." Her smile was sad again. "Even if that means I'm second fiddle or. . . or even if I'm not even there. If he's happy, I am too." Well, sort of.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Well, that certainly struck a nerve, Lariel thought as she watched the woman's reaction to her suggestion. She could already tell by her posture that such a Card would have never considered the option on her own, and probably wouldn't have the conviction or even will to pursue someone that way. Still, it needed to have been said at least.

Lariel rolled her eyes at the sappy tone in the Skunk's voice. "I guess it's your life and all, but I can't help but see you like this and think the whole situation makes you unhappy. Someone else's happiness can only go so far for you..."

The Bobcat looked down at the blue stone near her paw and fiddled with it idly to let the woman gather herself after admitting so much to someone who was practically a stranger. "I guess in a way....you're stronger than I am. If I had feelings for someone who didn't return them, there would be no force in this world that would keep me here. It would be my life's goal to stay as far as possible, in fact. Does the pain really mean so little in the face of what meager happiness you get from being around him?"

[seraaches]

Lariel had an excellent point, even though Kelasia was hard-pressed to admit it, especially to herself. Was she happy? She was, sort of. If she didn't look too closely at her life, at least. But the unhappiness, if she was forced to admit the truth, wasn't just about the strange relationships in her life. What was she looking for in her life? Wot did she need?

She didn't know; couldn't find the answer to those questions that so often plagued her mind and she was relieved to be able to turn her attention back tot he other woman as the bobcat continued speaking thoughtfully.

Kel strong? Stronger than anyone? The idea was laughable, though the skunk would not do so out loud. "It works for me," the woman said softly. "Because I am me. And. . seeing him happy makes me happy. . . . I wouldn't say that this. . . life. . . was right for everyone." Perhaps not anyone else, actually. Especially Lariel; she was such a beautifully strong woman and she deserved everything the world had to offer.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel nodded at the Skunk's explanation. Of course, that didn't mean she understood why she was doing it, but then again it wasn't her life. If this Card wanted to pine after someone she didn't, couldn't have a relationship with it was her business. Though if she was honest with herself, somewhere deep in the recesses of her being, she felt a twinge of sympathy for her homelander.

"You say it makes you happy, but it only can make you half happy. The other half is wishing that was you. I know you don't want to hurt anyone, but you can't lie to yourself."
Though abrupt, Lariel's tone was gentle. As far as she could remember, she hadn't actually felt anything for anyone in so long the Bobcat didn't even consider what she felt as caring. It was just too foreign a concept to her now.

"You're right though. I know I've already said it, but I couldn't live like you do. Though, it's the choice you made and I wish you the best luck with it. Who knows," Lariel said, pausing to take a sip of her drink, "life is funny. It never ends up the way you thought it would."

[seraaches]

Only half happy. . . Lariel was absolutely correct about that, but Kelasia didn't know how to acknowledge this. She didn't want to even accept the fact, but it was a much better description of her state of being than she had previously found. Still. . . if she didn't remain in her half happy relationship, she would lose him completely. The frightened and shy skunk from Sorgaire Range would not be able to handle that.

Many people may have inspired her, but only one ever reached out; Kel owed Theofilus a tremendously deep debt and her love for him was just a drop of that. She gave a gentle shrug; the bobcat was correct in everything she said and Kel certainly couldn't disagree.

She did finally speak up at Lariel's last sentence. "Yes, it is amazing where life takes one; so often unexpected." She would never have thought of joining the Courts if Theo hadn't picked her up her first day in the Capital.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel watched the small battle rage behind Kel's eyes and felt sympathy for the woman. It was true she'd never been in that situation, but she respected Kel for the choice she made and for sticking to her decision. It wasn't the easiest choice she could have made. Lariel had been serious; it took a strong individual to choose this life. She saw something else in Kel's eyes, and could only assume it was love. She'd never experienced such a thing herself.

"Unexpected...yeah, you could say that. Who knew I would be running my own Black Mar-" Lariel suddenly cut herself off. While the Bobcat was pleased with her business and clientèle, she had no idea where Kel stood on the Black Market. If she knew, would she be honor bound to turn her in. As much as she was starting to enjoy the company of this woman, she still couldn't trust her.

"Running my own Private Investigation Firm," she finished lamely and looked to her homelander to catch her reaction.