(no subject)
Alice
Seth
Late log is late. Happens after this so... yeah... quite a while ago >>
She put down her journal and headed outside, in front of the inn as promised. Desert nights were surprisingly cold, and that meant there was hardly anyone still outside - it was ideal, she'd figured, when she didn't want anyone else to listen. The temperature was something of a bother, but it was hardly anything compared to the anxiety she felt - telling Garion had been one thing. He was family, and the head of the family at that - he had the right to know.
Seth, though... in spite of everything, he was still very much a stranger. Just how much did they know about one another? She still wasn't even sure why he'd come on this trip with her. Anya was her servant now that Kassus had lost everything, but Seth...? Was his will to get away from his family so strong that he would accompany someone out into the desert like this...?
Alice rubbed her arms. She should've brought a coat...
He couldn't help but wonder what her reasons were for wanting him to meet her outside the inn, of all places, at this hour. Not that the problem was the hour itself... well, no matter. Of course he wouldn't deny her request. Not after insisting on accompanying her, when it had been pretty clear the idea didn't make her comfortable in any way. Putting on his coat - he realized, now more than ever, it was a good thing he had grown used to wearing heavy coats -, he headed to the meeting place Alice had picked.
Seth wasn't sure why he had joined her on this trip, really. Of course, taking a break from the Jungvys was always a good thing but... this was hardly what one would have in mind at the mention of "taking a break". Maybe the idea was actually keeping his mind busy... maybe Althaea's secret was turning out to be more of a burden to carry on his own than he would like to admit... and maybe that had a lot to do with the fact that-- ah. There she was.
She heard him coming, but didn't turn around to face him - not yet. It was odd. Alice had never been much of a coward when it came to speaking her mind, but... talk of her son always got her more anxious than she would like. She didn't want to have to face anyone while telling them that, somehow, she had let her former husband get away with stealing their child...
"Sorry to have you come out here at this hour. I just... figured that, if I'm going to drag you into the desert like this, I should at least tell you why." Keeping her voice steady was proving to be difficult. "It's not something I'd want anyone to overhear, so..."
"There is nothing to be sorry about... I was rather insistent on my being dragged along in the first place."
Something about her tone didn't seem right. Not that he could claim to know her well enough to be able to tell by her tone that something was off but... that was the impression he got, either way. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that she had her back turned to him. He raised a hand to rest on her shoulder, but stopped mid-way. For some reason, he didn't feel at ease to touch her in such a friendly manner right now. Which was ironic, to say the least, seeing how... well.
"I trust you do realize there is no need to say anything you do not want to, though? I did not ask to join you expecting you to share your reasons, after all."
"I do not feel comfortable leading you into possible danger without your knowledge of it," she pointed out, crossing her arms in an attempt to fend off the cold. "I've come to the desert in search of leads - which may not exist, granted, but... I'm looking for leads on the existence of the Loputo cult in the present day." Which, to most people, would likely sound quite outrageous, and so she was expecting a negative response.
If she had been facing him, she'd probably have noticed the slight change in his expression at her explanation. The Loputo cult. Well, that was... certainly more dangerous than he had been expecting. Still, as little as he might know about Alice Valmont, she had never struck him as an unreasonable woman. He stared at her for a few seconds, pondering what to reply to that. And while staring at her figure, he couldn't help the thought that she was probably feeling cold, being outside in the garments she was in when the temperature was so low.
He removed his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders, his mind going over her words again and again during the process. "Why would you come this far for that?" Yes. That was the point, indeed. There had to be a good reason.
She meant to turn around and tell him there was no need for the coat, but... she couldn't bring herself to look at him just yet.
"Have you ever wondered why there's certain pieces of clothing that I wouldn't remove?" ...Yes, the fact she could ask such a straightforward question naturally but not look at him when it came to talking about her son did say something about just how uncomfortable she felt over it.
He did realize now how cold it really was. But it didn't really matter. The fact that she seemed to be hesitant to look at him was intriguing... even worrisome, perhaps. He didn't manage to dwell on the thought for too long though.
Seth hadn't seen that question coming, truth be told. Who would have? The point, however, was that yes, he had wondered. Quite a few times, at that. Of course, it had hardly been in his place to ask about it, but since she was mentioning it now... "Yes?"
"I was married before. My husband... wasn't the most gentle of men." She had always liked being specific and to the point, but... she largely preferred euphemisms in this case. "Not only that, he had... strange habits. It was him who first made me wonder if the cult still exists... and if it does, I am almost positive he is... no. Was part of it."
"I see." He paused. That surely explained a few things... even if not what she had said she wanted to explain. "I must point out, though, that considering the facts provided, one would think you would prefer to keep distance from anything related to the cult, especially if you believe it might still exist, rather than going after leads on the subject."
There was a long, awkward silence, before she coughed briefly, took a deep breath, and said,
"My husband disappeared from home a few years ago, taking our child with him."
And then there was a longer, more awkward silence.
... well now it did make sense, didn't it? He wasn't sure what to say to that, though. So his response was actually doing as he had wanted to do a while back. Seth raised both hands to her shoulders, letting them rest there silently. The action felt a lot more appropriate than just saying anything, especially when he was pretty sure he wouldn't have managed to say anything relevant in face of that revelation.
"I... am sorry for keeping this a secret from you. It's not something I like for others to know. My own parents don't know, and my cousin... Garion, is the only other who knows, apart from the staff at my house." She made another pause, this time with a sigh. "I know it's in all likelihood a hopeless search. Still... if I don't do this, I don't think I could ever be at peace with myself."
She finally turned around to face him, pulling his coat off her shoulders in the process and holding it out to him, her usual smile - forcibly - back upon her face. "It will likely take a long time and present no results... I don't expect you to accompany me the whole time, but... one way or the other, I'm glad you came this far, at least."
He didn't take the coat back. Instead, he spent a few seconds studying her face, now that he could finally see it. He had intended to accompany her wherever she had wanted to venture before knowing the whole story... and even though knowing it did put the risk they were running into perspective, that was all the more reason not to leave her to it by herself.
"I am glad to have been able to accompany you so far, myself. But to be honest, I do not intend to stop doing so."
She continued to hold out the coat. Wasn't he taking it back? "Are you sure? It could take years, and still be completely unsuccessful. It's... my son, so I don't plan on giving up even if it is hopeless, but..."
At her insistence, he took the coat. Only to drape it around her shoulders again. So in the end, no, he wasn't taking it back. "It will be quicker, safer and easier if you have someone assisting you."
She chuckled a little. "Stop it. It's your coat. I'm fine." She pulled the coat off her shoulders again. Alice was also quite good at being stubborn, it seemed.
"It will not be, if my theory is incorrect."
"I am afraid you will have to pick between the coat or my arms, since I have no intention of leaving you exposed to the cold as you would be otherwise." He said that with a straight face, even though he had a small smile on his lips for a second, when she chuckled.
"It is a risk I am willing to take."
"Forcibly being a gentleman is acceptable nowadays? For shame." She shook her head. "Well... it's your choice to make. If you wish to come, I won't stop you."
"I will admit I am mostly oblivious to what is acceptable or not nowadays. But in my defense, your stubbornness left me no choice." Falling silent, he weighed his decision to help her with her search one final time. "Truth be told, living life as I had been living so far will do me no good. Not anymore. And if I am to have a change of pace, I might as well have it while being useful to someone else."
She continued to be stubborn, however, and put his coat back around his shoulders.
A change of pace, was it...? She examined his expression for a moment, bringing a hand to her chin. "Is that really all there is to it? This whole time, you've been looking like there's something... bothering you."
And keeping to his word, he put his arms around her.
He didn't say anything at first. It... wouldn't be a good idea to tell her, would it? It was a secret after all. Well, she had just told him a secret herself, but... this secret wasn't even his to tell. What right did he have to even consider sharing it? Still, the words left his lips before he could stop them.
"... is it that obvious?"
She wouldn't admit it, but that was just what she'd wanted him to do.
"A little, yes." Alice had no idea what it could be, but there was decidedly something bothering him.
He wouldn't admit it either, but that was just what he'd wanted her to want him to do.
It was tempting. He had been worrying over Althaea for quite some time now, but there was little he could do for her beyond what he had already done. Chances were that if he tried to do anything else, it would only make everything worse. But Alice... she had trusted him with a secret very few people knew about. He... could do the same, couldn't he? He had tried to help Althaea on his own from the very beginning, and he was sure now, as much as it pained him, that at times he had only managed to make things more difficult for her. Maybe Alice could provide better help.
"A secret for a secret it is then."
"Mm." She glanced up at him. So... it was something he shouldn't talk about. It was surprising - he had struck her as being secretive by nature, and she hadn't expected it to actually be a secret. "I'm listening."
Seth figured going straight to the point would probably be the best approach in this case. Provided there even was any kind of right approach when it came to the subject. So after a long pause, the secret came out in a rather concise fashion.
"Lady Velthomer is alive, well, and pregnant with the major Fala."
She arched her brows at the revelation, surprise quite plain upon her features. "Oh?"
...Well, that wasn't a very good way to reply, but it was the only thing she could manage at the moment. There was... quite a lot behind that secret that was left unsaid, but... if it was true, then...
Uttering that simple sentence had been so relieving the following details just seemed to flow easily. And while the thought that maybe he didn't have the right to have said anything still bothered him, Seth also realized it was too late to turn back now anyway. So he might as well just pour out everything that had been weighing on his shoulders alone.
"She ran away from Velthomer to guarantee the safety of the bloodline and has been working as a teacher in the Lenster Academy under the name of Ivy Styx."
Oh, that made sense, then... this "Ivy Styx" had shown up on the journals at the time of Lady Velthomer's sudden disappearance, hadn't she? And... the safety of the bloodline... yes, life must have been quite difficult for her, all things considered.
"Alone?"
"Yes, as far as I know. She did mention an 'unexpected tagalong' when she left Velthomer, but other than that..." He sighed. "I honestly doubt the full story is known by anyone else, really."
"That can't be good. She should... have at least one person who knows the story nearby." Hmm... she wasn't sure she could ask her cousin - he did have a tendency to talk too much and chances were that others would overhear things if he talked to one of his knights. Perhaps Charlotte? The knights of Dozel were reputedly honorable and dutiful... she would have to write her later.
"That's quite the secret."
"... do you have anything in mind?" He hoped she did, really. He was far from being proud of having shared something that had been confided to him alone, but if Alice could actually do something to help, then it wouldn't have been for nothing.
At her remark, he could only nod affirmatively. "Indeed."
"I may," she noted with a small nod. "We will see."
Alice pulled away from him, motioning back toward the inn. "It is quite cold here, isn't it? Maybe we should... go back."
"Very well." To most other people, he would have probably asked further questions regarding just what they intended to do with the information he had just provided. But for some reason, he had no intention of doing so right now. He did trust her, apparently. Besides, he was positive he wouldn't have shared that with "most other people" anyway. Yes. He did trust her.
"If you would rather." He wouldn't mind staying a bit longer, actually. He had noticed the chilliness again as soon as she had pulled away, but it sure hadn't been bothering him until then.
"I would, yes." The fact it took her some effort to pull away from him bothered her mildly. He was still very much a stranger, after all, and she... well, she had something important to worry about and couldn't really afford any... distractions.
"Thank you for hearing me out, and again... sorry to have kept it a secret."
"In that case..." He pulled his arms away from her, replacing them with his coat once again. He had come along as her friend. Only. He knew that. But for a moment there, it had seemed to slip his mind.
"There is hardly any need for thanking. Or apologizing, for that matter. Either way, I am glad I know what I am helping you with now."
"You're quite stubborn," she remarked, not bothering to remove his coat this time. "More than you let on."
Alice started back toward the inn. "Shall we get going, then?"
"I shall take that as a compliment."
He replied with a short nod, following her suit.
She gave a brief chuckle. "It wasn't one."
Seth smiled a little at that. "Too late."
Seth
Late log is late. Happens after this so... yeah... quite a while ago >>
She put down her journal and headed outside, in front of the inn as promised. Desert nights were surprisingly cold, and that meant there was hardly anyone still outside - it was ideal, she'd figured, when she didn't want anyone else to listen. The temperature was something of a bother, but it was hardly anything compared to the anxiety she felt - telling Garion had been one thing. He was family, and the head of the family at that - he had the right to know.
Seth, though... in spite of everything, he was still very much a stranger. Just how much did they know about one another? She still wasn't even sure why he'd come on this trip with her. Anya was her servant now that Kassus had lost everything, but Seth...? Was his will to get away from his family so strong that he would accompany someone out into the desert like this...?
Alice rubbed her arms. She should've brought a coat...
He couldn't help but wonder what her reasons were for wanting him to meet her outside the inn, of all places, at this hour. Not that the problem was the hour itself... well, no matter. Of course he wouldn't deny her request. Not after insisting on accompanying her, when it had been pretty clear the idea didn't make her comfortable in any way. Putting on his coat - he realized, now more than ever, it was a good thing he had grown used to wearing heavy coats -, he headed to the meeting place Alice had picked.
Seth wasn't sure why he had joined her on this trip, really. Of course, taking a break from the Jungvys was always a good thing but... this was hardly what one would have in mind at the mention of "taking a break". Maybe the idea was actually keeping his mind busy... maybe Althaea's secret was turning out to be more of a burden to carry on his own than he would like to admit... and maybe that had a lot to do with the fact that-- ah. There she was.
She heard him coming, but didn't turn around to face him - not yet. It was odd. Alice had never been much of a coward when it came to speaking her mind, but... talk of her son always got her more anxious than she would like. She didn't want to have to face anyone while telling them that, somehow, she had let her former husband get away with stealing their child...
"Sorry to have you come out here at this hour. I just... figured that, if I'm going to drag you into the desert like this, I should at least tell you why." Keeping her voice steady was proving to be difficult. "It's not something I'd want anyone to overhear, so..."
"There is nothing to be sorry about... I was rather insistent on my being dragged along in the first place."
Something about her tone didn't seem right. Not that he could claim to know her well enough to be able to tell by her tone that something was off but... that was the impression he got, either way. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that she had her back turned to him. He raised a hand to rest on her shoulder, but stopped mid-way. For some reason, he didn't feel at ease to touch her in such a friendly manner right now. Which was ironic, to say the least, seeing how... well.
"I trust you do realize there is no need to say anything you do not want to, though? I did not ask to join you expecting you to share your reasons, after all."
"I do not feel comfortable leading you into possible danger without your knowledge of it," she pointed out, crossing her arms in an attempt to fend off the cold. "I've come to the desert in search of leads - which may not exist, granted, but... I'm looking for leads on the existence of the Loputo cult in the present day." Which, to most people, would likely sound quite outrageous, and so she was expecting a negative response.
If she had been facing him, she'd probably have noticed the slight change in his expression at her explanation. The Loputo cult. Well, that was... certainly more dangerous than he had been expecting. Still, as little as he might know about Alice Valmont, she had never struck him as an unreasonable woman. He stared at her for a few seconds, pondering what to reply to that. And while staring at her figure, he couldn't help the thought that she was probably feeling cold, being outside in the garments she was in when the temperature was so low.
He removed his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders, his mind going over her words again and again during the process. "Why would you come this far for that?" Yes. That was the point, indeed. There had to be a good reason.
She meant to turn around and tell him there was no need for the coat, but... she couldn't bring herself to look at him just yet.
"Have you ever wondered why there's certain pieces of clothing that I wouldn't remove?" ...Yes, the fact she could ask such a straightforward question naturally but not look at him when it came to talking about her son did say something about just how uncomfortable she felt over it.
He did realize now how cold it really was. But it didn't really matter. The fact that she seemed to be hesitant to look at him was intriguing... even worrisome, perhaps. He didn't manage to dwell on the thought for too long though.
Seth hadn't seen that question coming, truth be told. Who would have? The point, however, was that yes, he had wondered. Quite a few times, at that. Of course, it had hardly been in his place to ask about it, but since she was mentioning it now... "Yes?"
"I was married before. My husband... wasn't the most gentle of men." She had always liked being specific and to the point, but... she largely preferred euphemisms in this case. "Not only that, he had... strange habits. It was him who first made me wonder if the cult still exists... and if it does, I am almost positive he is... no. Was part of it."
"I see." He paused. That surely explained a few things... even if not what she had said she wanted to explain. "I must point out, though, that considering the facts provided, one would think you would prefer to keep distance from anything related to the cult, especially if you believe it might still exist, rather than going after leads on the subject."
There was a long, awkward silence, before she coughed briefly, took a deep breath, and said,
"My husband disappeared from home a few years ago, taking our child with him."
And then there was a longer, more awkward silence.
... well now it did make sense, didn't it? He wasn't sure what to say to that, though. So his response was actually doing as he had wanted to do a while back. Seth raised both hands to her shoulders, letting them rest there silently. The action felt a lot more appropriate than just saying anything, especially when he was pretty sure he wouldn't have managed to say anything relevant in face of that revelation.
"I... am sorry for keeping this a secret from you. It's not something I like for others to know. My own parents don't know, and my cousin... Garion, is the only other who knows, apart from the staff at my house." She made another pause, this time with a sigh. "I know it's in all likelihood a hopeless search. Still... if I don't do this, I don't think I could ever be at peace with myself."
She finally turned around to face him, pulling his coat off her shoulders in the process and holding it out to him, her usual smile - forcibly - back upon her face. "It will likely take a long time and present no results... I don't expect you to accompany me the whole time, but... one way or the other, I'm glad you came this far, at least."
He didn't take the coat back. Instead, he spent a few seconds studying her face, now that he could finally see it. He had intended to accompany her wherever she had wanted to venture before knowing the whole story... and even though knowing it did put the risk they were running into perspective, that was all the more reason not to leave her to it by herself.
"I am glad to have been able to accompany you so far, myself. But to be honest, I do not intend to stop doing so."
She continued to hold out the coat. Wasn't he taking it back? "Are you sure? It could take years, and still be completely unsuccessful. It's... my son, so I don't plan on giving up even if it is hopeless, but..."
At her insistence, he took the coat. Only to drape it around her shoulders again. So in the end, no, he wasn't taking it back. "It will be quicker, safer and easier if you have someone assisting you."
She chuckled a little. "Stop it. It's your coat. I'm fine." She pulled the coat off her shoulders again. Alice was also quite good at being stubborn, it seemed.
"It will not be, if my theory is incorrect."
"I am afraid you will have to pick between the coat or my arms, since I have no intention of leaving you exposed to the cold as you would be otherwise." He said that with a straight face, even though he had a small smile on his lips for a second, when she chuckled.
"It is a risk I am willing to take."
"Forcibly being a gentleman is acceptable nowadays? For shame." She shook her head. "Well... it's your choice to make. If you wish to come, I won't stop you."
"I will admit I am mostly oblivious to what is acceptable or not nowadays. But in my defense, your stubbornness left me no choice." Falling silent, he weighed his decision to help her with her search one final time. "Truth be told, living life as I had been living so far will do me no good. Not anymore. And if I am to have a change of pace, I might as well have it while being useful to someone else."
She continued to be stubborn, however, and put his coat back around his shoulders.
A change of pace, was it...? She examined his expression for a moment, bringing a hand to her chin. "Is that really all there is to it? This whole time, you've been looking like there's something... bothering you."
And keeping to his word, he put his arms around her.
He didn't say anything at first. It... wouldn't be a good idea to tell her, would it? It was a secret after all. Well, she had just told him a secret herself, but... this secret wasn't even his to tell. What right did he have to even consider sharing it? Still, the words left his lips before he could stop them.
"... is it that obvious?"
She wouldn't admit it, but that was just what she'd wanted him to do.
"A little, yes." Alice had no idea what it could be, but there was decidedly something bothering him.
He wouldn't admit it either, but that was just what he'd wanted her to want him to do.
It was tempting. He had been worrying over Althaea for quite some time now, but there was little he could do for her beyond what he had already done. Chances were that if he tried to do anything else, it would only make everything worse. But Alice... she had trusted him with a secret very few people knew about. He... could do the same, couldn't he? He had tried to help Althaea on his own from the very beginning, and he was sure now, as much as it pained him, that at times he had only managed to make things more difficult for her. Maybe Alice could provide better help.
"A secret for a secret it is then."
"Mm." She glanced up at him. So... it was something he shouldn't talk about. It was surprising - he had struck her as being secretive by nature, and she hadn't expected it to actually be a secret. "I'm listening."
Seth figured going straight to the point would probably be the best approach in this case. Provided there even was any kind of right approach when it came to the subject. So after a long pause, the secret came out in a rather concise fashion.
"Lady Velthomer is alive, well, and pregnant with the major Fala."
She arched her brows at the revelation, surprise quite plain upon her features. "Oh?"
...Well, that wasn't a very good way to reply, but it was the only thing she could manage at the moment. There was... quite a lot behind that secret that was left unsaid, but... if it was true, then...
Uttering that simple sentence had been so relieving the following details just seemed to flow easily. And while the thought that maybe he didn't have the right to have said anything still bothered him, Seth also realized it was too late to turn back now anyway. So he might as well just pour out everything that had been weighing on his shoulders alone.
"She ran away from Velthomer to guarantee the safety of the bloodline and has been working as a teacher in the Lenster Academy under the name of Ivy Styx."
Oh, that made sense, then... this "Ivy Styx" had shown up on the journals at the time of Lady Velthomer's sudden disappearance, hadn't she? And... the safety of the bloodline... yes, life must have been quite difficult for her, all things considered.
"Alone?"
"Yes, as far as I know. She did mention an 'unexpected tagalong' when she left Velthomer, but other than that..." He sighed. "I honestly doubt the full story is known by anyone else, really."
"That can't be good. She should... have at least one person who knows the story nearby." Hmm... she wasn't sure she could ask her cousin - he did have a tendency to talk too much and chances were that others would overhear things if he talked to one of his knights. Perhaps Charlotte? The knights of Dozel were reputedly honorable and dutiful... she would have to write her later.
"That's quite the secret."
"... do you have anything in mind?" He hoped she did, really. He was far from being proud of having shared something that had been confided to him alone, but if Alice could actually do something to help, then it wouldn't have been for nothing.
At her remark, he could only nod affirmatively. "Indeed."
"I may," she noted with a small nod. "We will see."
Alice pulled away from him, motioning back toward the inn. "It is quite cold here, isn't it? Maybe we should... go back."
"Very well." To most other people, he would have probably asked further questions regarding just what they intended to do with the information he had just provided. But for some reason, he had no intention of doing so right now. He did trust her, apparently. Besides, he was positive he wouldn't have shared that with "most other people" anyway. Yes. He did trust her.
"If you would rather." He wouldn't mind staying a bit longer, actually. He had noticed the chilliness again as soon as she had pulled away, but it sure hadn't been bothering him until then.
"I would, yes." The fact it took her some effort to pull away from him bothered her mildly. He was still very much a stranger, after all, and she... well, she had something important to worry about and couldn't really afford any... distractions.
"Thank you for hearing me out, and again... sorry to have kept it a secret."
"In that case..." He pulled his arms away from her, replacing them with his coat once again. He had come along as her friend. Only. He knew that. But for a moment there, it had seemed to slip his mind.
"There is hardly any need for thanking. Or apologizing, for that matter. Either way, I am glad I know what I am helping you with now."
"You're quite stubborn," she remarked, not bothering to remove his coat this time. "More than you let on."
Alice started back toward the inn. "Shall we get going, then?"
"I shall take that as a compliment."
He replied with a short nod, following her suit.
She gave a brief chuckle. "It wasn't one."
Seth smiled a little at that. "Too late."