| Heartwood Logs |
2000-06-03
| Heartwood |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Tactical Planning
- It is quiet. Her light streaks across the floor, sending soft
shafts through the recently disturbed dust. The little room almost
looks comfortable in the dim light; perhaps ages ago it was
someone's room, to return to after a long day... or after a long night
beneath the stars. Across, Roxanna and Benedict have closed their eyes,
leaning against each other. Somewhere, somewhere beyond the crossing
Anuje should be holding watch. Trystan is curled up at the doorframe,
an awkward fall. He probably hadn't planned to fall asleep in the stuffy
air. Beyond the portal Tashka and Allena quietly converse, every now
and then their chains clattering.
Perhaps it's the clatter of the chains that brings Brisa fully awake again, trying to banish the weights of last evening and this morning. And as she shifts so does her companion, Romana's arms looped loosely in a warm embrace, borrowing Brisa's shoulder as her pillow. The younger woman's eyes open slowly as she draws a long breath.
Slowly closing her eyes once more, Romana whispers, "Brisa... not lost anymore, no?"
Brisa sighs softly, carefully not shifting so her companion is not disturbed, and murmurs softly, "I... don't know, Romana. In some ways I hoped Tashka could give me new clues on where to find places so that Her people can reclaim them and grow stronger... but it seems, listening to her speak..." she falls silent for a long moment... then quietly finishes, "It seems some things never change..." She adds, several heartbeats later, a wistful, "I don't... understand, sometimes..."
Romana does shift however, gently slipping a little closer to fit a mite more comfortable. "Change and stay same. That the question at core of world, isn't it?" She lets out a small puff of breath, teasing the cloth of Brisa's tunic. "Only thing ever happen in one night was fall of Roth, Brisa. And even that many, many days coming, no?" Quiet for her own set of heartbeats, Romana then looks up, and it is her turn to lift her hand and gently brush an unruly lock of hair from Brisa's eyes. "Understand? What doesn't Brisa understand?"
Brisa says, "Ohh..." She's quiet for a moment, trying to understand herself this confusing mix of frustration, longing, and vague feelings of 'wrongness'... "I guess... I guess I just don't understand why things are the way they are, Romishka... I mean, how could the things that happen, happen? What kind of world do we live in, when things like that out there can occur?" She keeps her voice low, but gestures towards the hallway. "How do we fix it so it can't happen again? And the little, simple things too... What did Tashka mean about the companions? -about the unicorns? Why is Herself so interested in keeping her followers separate from closeness with the world? The only other people I've seen so uptight about virginity are men... and they use it to hurt women, to tell them they're good or bad... why is there nothing like that for women to use against men, mishka? Why can't I walk into any place in Bordertown and get treated like a simple human being?! Why can't I buy you armor? Why do men find that so insulting -- but they're not willing to protect you unless the woman pays them... with her body?!" She takes a long, slow breath, keeping a tight rein on the feelings inside her, and adds softly, "That... that's what I don't understand, mishka... I guess... I guess I never will..."
Romana rises a mote, listening to Brisa's words, her gaze soft, even, and so very intent. With the seriousness of a child, totally focused. And when Brisa finishes she lets her fingertips brush back her friend's cheek, until she can slowly stroke Brisa's hair. She is quiet for a long while, the touch of her fingers light and smooth. "...first there was the Forest, and all else was the many changing forms of Chaos..." She takes a small breath, "Romanas not know, but it started there. Fight born. Either so much Chaos existence means nothing, or so stay the sames existences means nothing. Between two perfect... two perfect... towns Brisa and Romana are caught, which means here and nows not perfects, never make total sense... and hurt... it game of court, Brisa. Like Friends, not often game of seek what's best, but play of power. Father used to look down on oranges and shake heads, disdainful, looking at all like look at Romanas, saying let them slake lust... never as hot as thrill of power. Somewhere, somewhen, on Brisa's side of mountain the game was harsh played. And Brisa's folks lost... but how change... that..." Romana pauses, searching for words. Brisa's eyebrows wrinkle up as she tries to follow that, listening quietly. Romana reaches back to let her fingers trace the gentle curve of Brisa's ear. "At home... in towns... always see, fight to take, fight to claim. Same game of court and blood at Kh'Lhy'ra as all towns between here an there. But Brisas... Brisas fight fors, stand to help. Romanas flee from hunters, Brisa stops. Didn't have too, yes? Brought Brisa no power, yes? But did anyways. Romanas think, Romana's think, if can change, start there?"
Brisa nods slowly, listening... then whispers quietly, "I hope so... I just wonder sometimes..." she sighs softly, "-what good can only one person do?"
Drawing her fingers back, Romana slips them beneath Brisa's chin to lift her head, so that sapphire eyes might find hers. "If Davidson Black can end Second Age, then Brisa of Highgaard, more can do." Romana then smiles softly, "And Brisa silly. Not alone. Trystan... Roxanna, little Anuje, Bennydicts... and... ad even Romanas, with you."
Brisa blinks at Romana's moving her head, then smiles and shifts to lay on her back, one arm behind her head... so she can both see Romana, and still offer her a place to pillow her head if she wants. Her words are quiet as she thinks, "Well... Davidson sort of sold himself to the Eastern gods, I think... war is like that. I don't think I'd like to cause that sort of rapid change, really... too many folks get hurt that way." She smiles again at Romana's last comment, "That... well, I admit, that worries me sometimes too. I don't want any of you to get hurt... but I don't know a good place to leave you that's safe too, you know? for when things get ugly." She sighs, her expression darkening as she thinks about the on-coming night, "I would feel terrible if any of you got hurt because I wasn't good enough..."
As Brisa shifts so does Romana, gliding up to fit easily against her companion. Soft curves settle in nicely, Romana's fingers now tarrying at Brisa's collar. But they stop suddenly, and almost seem to press hard at the Dayallan's final words. "Think Romanas child, Brisa?"
Brisa gives Romana a puzzled glance, "Nyeh... that would be stupid, mishka -- children don't call Friends, as far as I can tell. But I think you're someone I care a great deal about, and that I'm trying to help and protect. Um... why are you asking me this question, please?"
Romana pauses. She takes a breath, leaning forward, a hair's breath closer. "Romana not child, Brisa. Romana knows what Romana does. Not Brisa's... repose... replan... responsibility. Romanas'. Mine. If Romanas said, Brisa, not do, stay in safe place, what would Brisa think? Would Brisa listen? Romanas' chance to fight for something, instead of just Romanas... would Brisa take that from Romana?" Rising, Romana turns to Brisa, now almost nose to nose. "And think that Romana not care for Brisa, worried that by not doing, Brisa get hurt? Romana .. Romana does care."
Brisa raises an eyebrow at Romana's vehemence, her own expression quietly worried... then gently puts a hand on Romana's shoulder, encouraging but not pushing her to relax and lay down again. At Brisa's touch Romana looks down. She swallows once and nods, then sets her head down upon Brisa's chest, letting out a long, soft sigh. Brisa gently brushes a strand of Romana's hair back next to Romana, so it won't tickle Brisa's face. She is silent and still for a long moment, only the regular rise and fall of her breathing letting Romana know Brisa's awake and thinking. Finally she says quietly, "Mishka... do you remember me talking to Benny on the road to Bordertown, right after we met up with you? Do you remember what we did when we first followed you?"
Romana doesn't say a word, but she nods her head. Brisa says, "I went chasing after you with Khari. We saw the pale horse, and for a moment we thought Dancer must be a fey creature that had tricked you into mounting, and was stealing you away. I wanted to get close enough to see -- and to offer you an arm off if it was a fey thing. Benny... Benedict did something very brave, although he never admits his own bravery to himself. He sent a horse he was unfamiliar with and didn't know how to ride dashing after me -- because he thought no one should have to face the Fey alone. It was extremely brave of him... but it was also not the best thing he could have done. Benny is very smart, smarter than I am, I think... he can go places I cannot, and can do things I will never be allowed to do. That was what I tried to tell him on the path later, mishka... that we all have things we are best at. The trick in life, I think, is to do those things as best you can, to help those you care about." Brisa pauses, thinking... then adds softly, "Does that make sense, mishka? Do you understand what I'm saying here?"
Romana nods again, and as she does she lets out a soft sigh, her fingers reaching out to follow the curve of Brisa's waist. "Of course... Brish'khya... can Brish'khya trust that Romanas know what Romanas do well, and know what Romanas do not well?"
Brisa smiles quietly, "I trust that you will do whatever you do with all your heart, mishka... and that is why I am asking you please to stay off the front line tonight. I'm the armored one. I can't call Friends, I can't convince other warriors to come here, I can't heal people. You and the others... you're too valuable to risk up there, mishka. You don't even have any armor yet. I promise as soon as I have a moment to talk to captain Garrick I'll do my best to get you some... but until then, kiska, please... for me, please, stay off the front line? Stay back, and let Icicle help if you wish... but stay behind me, please?"
Romana traces small circles with her fingers. "Romana listens, Romana also hears Brisa. Why must Brisa carry weight of all of Heartwood upon Brisa's shoulders. Just as Romanas valuable, and Romanas are, Brisa also is needed. Think Romanas can afford to lose Brisa? Romanas not have many... friends." She pauses, then continues, "And Romanas stand where Romanas wish. For Romanas are Romanas are Romanas... and Romanas are not stupid. Romana knows how fast beasts are, how they slash. Romanas not planning on being dinners for silly beast. Romana have other plans. But..."
She pauses again, then adds softly, "...Romana behind Brisa will be... maybe right behinds."
Brisa chuckles softly, "All the Heartwood? Eeeh... wish it were that easy, mishka." She adds with a smile, "You will have many friends in time, Rommicats... you're pretty and young and smart. We all like you. Believe me, there will be more." She sighs softly then, her worry returning as she gently lays one of her hands on Romana's, "Please, mishka, I am asking, not telling, because I know if you say you will do this you will... and because I will not try forcing friends. So I am asking you please... not too close? If you are close enough I will want to cover you as well as me... and I am not as quick when I must shield two." Her fingers tighten for a moment in worry as she adds, "Already I have the two chained people to shield. I do not know how I will manage that with them on opposite walls, if the lizards get through our little rubble barricade..." Her voice trails off as she continues worrying at her problem, trying to figure out some way to make too little resources do more than they were ever designed to do.
Romana turns her hand so their fingers might interlace. She looks at their hands for a long handful of heartbeats... then lets out a long, long sigh. "Not... not to close. Romanas help. Not get in Brisas' way. But... but will be there for Brisa when Brisa needs. Best Romanas can promise... for not make promise to Brisa Romanas cannot keep." She turns her head, the movement of her hair a simple caress. "And Brish'khya... all like you too. Even Romanas. Especially Romanas. Please do not ask of us to not do... what Brisa would do for us..."
Brisa studies Romana's fingers, intertwined with hers, with quiet interest. Such slender, delicate-looking, pale fingers... she wonders how Romana's skin will react under Her gaze... she hopes Romana doesn't burn... maybe she needs a hat or something? Gloves? -pay attention! Her faint smile is a bit distracted as she nods, "That... I suppose you're right, and it's only fair I not ask for more than that. Just..." she hesitates, then says a little lamely, "-just... be careful, mishka, all right?"
As Brisa hesitates, Romana's fingers slowly curl and squeeze. And then she silently smiles, takes one breath, followed by two more. "For Brisa, Romishka careful be." Relaxing a bit, she considers. "Brisa, it will fine be. Romana trusts Brisa."
Brisa smiles, relaxing a bit herself as well, "Good. Spacebo, mishka... for removing a worry for me."