(Untitled)

[ostro_goth]

Teja is by the fireplace, eschewing the sunlight; he has his harp and plays a soft, sad melody, his fingers moving as if on their own while he gazes into the fire and thinks.

Oh, and he has much to think of, and to feel pain for!

Not only has Asher returned, and been hurt so deeply, mere minutes from his entrance, when Teja told him, straight

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[fiery_ring]

A sherbet lemon drops down into the grim Goth's lap.

But can he spot the thrower...

[ostro_goth]

"Carlotta!" Teja says, looking up to try and spot her in the rafters.

"Is there any special reason you are throwing hard sweets at me?"

He is somewhat amused at that, though.

[fiery_ring]

"For you to eat, Your Highness." Carlotta says, dropping down in front of him.

"You looked like a cat that had been denied the cream, sir."

[ostro_goth]

"Some things are hard, at the moment," Teja says. "Friends in trouble, and much unhappiness for all."

[fiery_ring]

"I'm sorry sir. I meant merely that you looked glum, and I thought dropping an orange on your head without a parachute might startle you."

She puts a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

[ostro_goth]

That makes Teja snort with unexpected mirth.

"Dropping an orange on my head with a parachute would have startled me even more, for I know not what a parachute is. They were not invented in my time!"

Pause.

"The things that are wrong are, for the most part, not my secret to keep or speak of," Teja says, "and that which is, is of a nature that I would, could, should not speak of it to you!"

[fiery_ring]

"Your Highness, I'm sixteen." Carlotta points out. "You need not worry too much about scaring me. I have to face the world as a woman in a few years."

She sits next to him and gives him a hug.

[ostro_goth]

"It is great darkness," Teja says. "And pain. Part of it is that one returned that I had known before, in this place, and loved. I had to tell him I am now my Charlie's, and hurt him deeply."

That much, he can safely say.

"But truly, I would much rather you tell me what an orange with a parachute is?"

[fiery_ring]

"Oh." Tighter hug.

"It's like the one I first gave you, that floats gently down from the sky."

[ostro_goth]

"It came in some contraption!" Teja says. "Of fabric, was it not? But that makes oranges float down gently from the sky? Such amazing inventions people from the future have!"

[fiery_ring]

"Yes, that's a parachute. Real ones are much bigger and carry people."

[ostro_goth]

"People?" Teja says. "Flying down from what?"

[fiery_ring]

"Aeroplanes."

[ostro_goth]

"Why would any want to fly out of an aeroplane," Teja says, "when those can land, and one may descend safely?"

[fiery_ring]

"If the aeroplane is crashing?"

[ostro_goth]

"Then, you are right, it might be good if one is able to leave it," Teja says.

Pause.

"It must be exhilarating, to jump from an aeroplane and glide all the way to the ground..." he muses.