It was amazing how much work was necessary for a small get together, but also how quickly and easily it went with the help of another person. Especially when that person happened to be on staff
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While he doesn't imagine this party will be anything that the ones she's thrown before, Kevas shows up regardless. After all she did invite everyone and he doesn't want to disappoint her. Kevas doesn't want to lose anymore of the people that he knows, especially since his little episode in front of Vie. That's not a performance he wants to repeat again.
When he arrives, Kevas wanders around the party pausing only for a moment to grab a bottle of liquor. Unfortunately he'll be giving the cupcakes a wide berth. After months of dealing with magic sweets, he doesn't much trust anything he sees at parties besides booze.
Seeing a familiar face in the crowd, Chloe sidles up to Kevas, a drink in hand. She doesn't know what to say to him at first, so instead she remains quiet, nodding and sending a small smile his way.
"Hey."
She won't mention anything if Kevas seems to not want to mention anything. She can avoid certain topics if it means they might have a nice conversation. She didn't know if she could help ease any of his troubles or if things were beginning to look brighter for him, but she found she kind of liked his company.
When Kevas sees her he smiles and tips his hat to her politely. Now that they aren't doing anything dangerous and he's not on a frantic search for his wife he's much more at ease than he was before. Chloe, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be so at ease and he can't help but wonder if there's something else going on now.
"Hey dere girliemon. How joo be doin'?" Kevas asks before taking a swig from his bottle.
Forcing a bit of a smile, Chloe gives a light shrug and looks out over the people milling about.
"I'm no worse than anyone here. Things certainly don't look like they will be getting better any time soon, what with punishments being dealt and--"
And the added horror and hurt that came from loved ones being injured or worse.
Forcing a brighter smile, Chloe adds, "Well, this is nice at least. Being here with friends, and having a chance to get to know each other better." It was relaxing, and Chloe felt everyone deserved that every once and a while.
That's a fake smile if Kevas has ever seen one. If she wants to fool Kevas then she's going to have to try a lot harder than this. He might not be Talia but he has spent years reading people.
"Places like dese can be harduh on joo den any uddah. Tryin' to bottle dat up ain't gonna do notin' but kill joo from da inside. If joo wanna suhvive a place like dis den joo gotta have somemon joo can talk to."
That's a lesson he learned the hard way. Of course whether or not she talks his advice is up to her.
"Course t'ings like dis can help too," he continues with a smirk.
Shoulders slumping, Chloe loses her smile for a bit as her mind drifts to other places she had been--comparing Lyle House to the Keep.
"I've had my fair share of places that can be hard on you. With friends, it can be all right." She frowns in thought, then returns to the conversation at hand and casts a look Kevas's way, a small smile teasing her lips. "You offering to listen?" Straightening her shoulders, Chloe takes a deep breath, pushing dark thoughts away. "I'm okay. I'm sure we've all been through worse, in any case."
Looking out over the people gathered, she nods and smiles. "It is nice. That it was created by one of us is even better." That way Chloe new it wasn't a means to an end. And hopefully her drink wouldn't be drugged, here.
"'Bout half of what I do dese days be listenin'." He's only partly joking there. Both here and in the Elegante you really have to pay attention to what's going on. There's no telling what useful things you might hear broadcasted. "Maybe, maybe not, but da more joo be lettin' it eat at joo da worse it gonna get."
"Tell me 'bout it. Least now I ain't be havin' to worry 'bout bein' turned into a pink-skin." No offense Chloe, but he would much rather be his normal green self than anything else.
"You can learn a lot, that way. Listening. Observing. Actually paying attention."
She's silent a moment, considering what it was that was eating at her. "I don't like being at the mercy of others. I don't like that I know nothing of the person or people running this place. I don't know if it's someone I can trust." Her brow furrowed. "I thought the answer was simple. Look around until you have all your answers. But sooner or later, someone gets hurt. Or punished." Like Talia. Like Derek. It felt like things would gradually get worse. "Derek got a slap on the hand this time, but what happens nixt time? I can only see things getting worse."
And that didn't sit well with Chloe at all.
"I was talking to someone else, though, and she said something like this happened to her before. That all we have to do is sit and wait. I don't know if I can do that, though."
Heaving a sigh, she turns frustrated eyes on Kevas. "What do you think about all this
( ... )
"Can't t'ink of a single mon who does," Kevas says taking another sip from his bottle. He goes quiet for a moment, staring into the blazing bonfire. Kevas knows what he wants to tell her but the question is if he should. It might help but it may just make things worse for her. Finally, after a few moments of silence, he speaks again.
"Sometin' like dis happened to me befuh too, and in a way joo both be right. Da more joo go lookin' fuh ansahs da more likely joo gonna run into trouble. No way 'round dat. So joo gotta ask joorself if joo be willin' to take dem risks, and if joo be trustin' dose joo love 'nuff to take dem risks wid joo. If not, den bein' patient be da best t'ing joo can do fuh now."
When she mentions him being a human Kevas frowns a bit. "I didn't just look like a pink-skin I was one. Worst t'ing 'bout it be dat I be startin' to get used to it."
This happened to him one too many times in his opinion.
Frowning at her feet, Chloe scuffs her shoes in the ground a little before she responds. "So I have to deal with any repercussions to my actions--or those I care about--or do nothing." She didn't really like those options. "W-what if, after everything Derek and I have been through, we can't just twidle our thumbs and do nothing? I just... face the music time and again, huh?" It would take a thicker skin and mentality than anything she's faced in the past, she feels.
"I-if I have to do it, I will. I w-won't be able to have my mind at ease unless I am at least trying to get answers, here."
But still. Derek would never let her do anything that might endager her, or end in her getting punished. Because of that, and the trouble she knew they both got into, Chloe couldn't keep her feeling of trepidation concerning Derek at bay. Something worse would happen to him sooner or later, and Chloe didn't know how she would be able to handle that. The agony of the thought alone was something she couldn't keep from her expression.
"Da only way to guarantee joor safety be to do notin', but I can't do dat myself eiddah."
Kevas reaches over and sets a hand on Chloe's shoulder. It's a hard truth but if she wants to go digging for answers in this place then it's one she's going to have to learn.
"I ain't gonna lie to jah girliemon. I been t'roo sometin' like dis befuh and it gonna be hard. When dem hard times be comin' joo gotta grit joor teeth and bear it, but joo nevah have to do it alone. Wheddah it be family or friends, havin' somemon at joor back be makin' ten times easiuh to go t'roo."
Something else is bothering her now, and badly too. That's a plain as the hair on her head.
Nodding slowly, Chloe agrees. She knows everything he's sayign right now is right. "Thanks, Kevas. I've been in a situation kind of similar in the past, too. I know it gets tough. You're right, though. At least we aren't alone, here."
She smiles solemnly up at him, then teases a little. "After all, you're here, right? Seems to me you're a good friend to have along. I-if you ever need anything..." Chloe trails off. Whether Kevas would need her help or not, she tried to let him know she'd do what she could.
At his question, Chloe looks out over the poeple mingling. "Kevas? H-how... how do you work at being less paranoid about someone you care about getting hurt?" She bites the inside of her lips. Okay, that was one thing she wanted to work at, yes, but that wasn't the whole of it. "I'm used to Derek always putting himself at risk. He feels if anyone gets hurt, better he than I." The frown alone on Chloe's face shows what she thinks about that. She sighs. "Sometimes I think I finally got through to him--that he's worth something and
( ... )
Kevas chuckles and pats her shoulder before pulling it away. "I be havin' my good qualities." When she trails off Kevas turns his gaze on her and smiles reassuringly. "Aye girliemon, and da same be goin' fuh joo." She doesn't have to finish for him to know what she's trying to say
( ... )
It's hard not to feel a little bit better when a strong and friendly troll is not only listening to her troubles, but offering to back her up. Chloe smiles. "Thank you, Kevas." She meant it
( ... )
"It be no problem girliemon." He gives her another reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Well it nevah really stopped me from bein' paranoid eiddah no mattah how much I trust dem, but I can't let dat get in da way of t'ings." Which is saying a lot coming from him. The first half of his entire life was built around paranoia. More than once had it saved his life. It still does to this day, but he won't push away his family just because of his constant worrying for them.
Kevas smirks again. "Hit da nail on da head dere girliemon." Although it's not like he's making any real effort to keep that part a secret. Talia isn't the only one that pushed that lesson on Kevas anyway. Nel was pretty damn amendment he realize that too, and even Joe as well.
"Hmm. Well, it's still nice to know I'm not the only paranoid one." She smiles lightly, trying to make light of the situation.
Chuckling, Chloe shakes her head and grins. "I had a feeling." She beams up at Kevas, understanding alight in her gaze. Then she's blushing and rubbing at the back of her neck, realizing she just poured her heart out and unloaded the majority of her worries onto Kevas's shoulders.
"Sorry to unload like that. Derek and I will be fine, I know it." She smiles, reaching a hand out to lightly grasp Kevas's and give his hand a light squeeze in thanks.
When he arrives, Kevas wanders around the party pausing only for a moment to grab a bottle of liquor. Unfortunately he'll be giving the cupcakes a wide berth. After months of dealing with magic sweets, he doesn't much trust anything he sees at parties besides booze.
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"Hey."
She won't mention anything if Kevas seems to not want to mention anything. She can avoid certain topics if it means they might have a nice conversation. She didn't know if she could help ease any of his troubles or if things were beginning to look brighter for him, but she found she kind of liked his company.
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"Hey dere girliemon. How joo be doin'?" Kevas asks before taking a swig from his bottle.
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"I'm no worse than anyone here. Things certainly don't look like they will be getting better any time soon, what with punishments being dealt and--"
And the added horror and hurt that came from loved ones being injured or worse.
Forcing a brighter smile, Chloe adds, "Well, this is nice at least. Being here with friends, and having a chance to get to know each other better." It was relaxing, and Chloe felt everyone deserved that every once and a while.
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"Places like dese can be harduh on joo den any uddah. Tryin' to bottle dat up ain't gonna do notin' but kill joo from da inside. If joo wanna suhvive a place like dis den joo gotta have somemon joo can talk to."
That's a lesson he learned the hard way. Of course whether or not she talks his advice is up to her.
"Course t'ings like dis can help too," he continues with a smirk.
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"I've had my fair share of places that can be hard on you. With friends, it can be all right." She frowns in thought, then returns to the conversation at hand and casts a look Kevas's way, a small smile teasing her lips. "You offering to listen?" Straightening her shoulders, Chloe takes a deep breath, pushing dark thoughts away. "I'm okay. I'm sure we've all been through worse, in any case."
Looking out over the people gathered, she nods and smiles. "It is nice. That it was created by one of us is even better." That way Chloe new it wasn't a means to an end. And hopefully her drink wouldn't be drugged, here.
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"Tell me 'bout it. Least now I ain't be havin' to worry 'bout bein' turned into a pink-skin." No offense Chloe, but he would much rather be his normal green self than anything else.
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She's silent a moment, considering what it was that was eating at her. "I don't like being at the mercy of others. I don't like that I know nothing of the person or people running this place. I don't know if it's someone I can trust." Her brow furrowed. "I thought the answer was simple. Look around until you have all your answers. But sooner or later, someone gets hurt. Or punished." Like Talia. Like Derek. It felt like things would gradually get worse. "Derek got a slap on the hand this time, but what happens nixt time? I can only see things getting worse."
And that didn't sit well with Chloe at all.
"I was talking to someone else, though, and she said something like this happened to her before. That all we have to do is sit and wait. I don't know if I can do that, though."
Heaving a sigh, she turns frustrated eyes on Kevas. "What do you think about all this ( ... )
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"Sometin' like dis happened to me befuh too, and in a way joo both be right. Da more joo go lookin' fuh ansahs da more likely joo gonna run into trouble. No way 'round dat. So joo gotta ask joorself if joo be willin' to take dem risks, and if joo be trustin' dose joo love 'nuff to take dem risks wid joo. If not, den bein' patient be da best t'ing joo can do fuh now."
When she mentions him being a human Kevas frowns a bit. "I didn't just look like a pink-skin I was one. Worst t'ing 'bout it be dat I be startin' to get used to it."
This happened to him one too many times in his opinion.
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"I-if I have to do it, I will. I w-won't be able to have my mind at ease unless I am at least trying to get answers, here."
But still. Derek would never let her do anything that might endager her, or end in her getting punished. Because of that, and the trouble she knew they both got into, Chloe couldn't keep her feeling of trepidation concerning Derek at bay. Something worse would happen to him sooner or later, and Chloe didn't know how she would be able to handle that. The agony of the thought alone was something she couldn't keep from her expression.
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Kevas reaches over and sets a hand on Chloe's shoulder. It's a hard truth but if she wants to go digging for answers in this place then it's one she's going to have to learn.
"I ain't gonna lie to jah girliemon. I been t'roo sometin' like dis befuh and it gonna be hard. When dem hard times be comin' joo gotta grit joor teeth and bear it, but joo nevah have to do it alone. Wheddah it be family or friends, havin' somemon at joor back be makin' ten times easiuh to go t'roo."
Something else is bothering her now, and badly too. That's a plain as the hair on her head.
"Whatchu be t'inkin' girliemon? Speak up."
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She smiles solemnly up at him, then teases a little. "After all, you're here, right? Seems to me you're a good friend to have along. I-if you ever need anything..." Chloe trails off. Whether Kevas would need her help or not, she tried to let him know she'd do what she could.
At his question, Chloe looks out over the poeple mingling. "Kevas? H-how... how do you work at being less paranoid about someone you care about getting hurt?" She bites the inside of her lips. Okay, that was one thing she wanted to work at, yes, but that wasn't the whole of it. "I'm used to Derek always putting himself at risk. He feels if anyone gets hurt, better he than I." The frown alone on Chloe's face shows what she thinks about that. She sighs. "Sometimes I think I finally got through to him--that he's worth something and ( ... )
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"Well it nevah really stopped me from bein' paranoid eiddah no mattah how much I trust dem, but I can't let dat get in da way of t'ings." Which is saying a lot coming from him. The first half of his entire life was built around paranoia. More than once had it saved his life. It still does to this day, but he won't push away his family just because of his constant worrying for them.
Kevas smirks again. "Hit da nail on da head dere girliemon." Although it's not like he's making any real effort to keep that part a secret. Talia isn't the only one that pushed that lesson on Kevas anyway. Nel was pretty damn amendment he realize that too, and even Joe as well.
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Chuckling, Chloe shakes her head and grins. "I had a feeling." She beams up at Kevas, understanding alight in her gaze. Then she's blushing and rubbing at the back of her neck, realizing she just poured her heart out and unloaded the majority of her worries onto Kevas's shoulders.
"Sorry to unload like that. Derek and I will be fine, I know it." She smiles, reaching a hand out to lightly grasp Kevas's and give his hand a light squeeze in thanks.
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