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*===========================< In Character Time >===========================*
Time of day: Night (Dawnside)
Date on Aether: Tuesday, May 10, 3906.
Year on Earth: 1506 A.D.
Phase of the Moon: New
Season: Spring
Weather: Clear Skies
Temperature: Warm
*==========================================================================*
legendary.org 5000
Inner Courtyard - Living Quarters - Palladium - Haven
A colonnade surrounds the perimeter of the inner courtyard, whose
paved paths lead to various domiciles, each built in the traditional
Empyreal style. Tiled roofs, arches, columns, and even balconies are
common features on all the homes, and the decor is light and airy--much
like those who dwell within. There are no staircases, although there
are some residencies that extend to a second floor, for the occupants
have no need of stairs when they can simply glide through the air.
Almost everything is built of pale marble in shades of white, cream, or
rose, and climbing vines of flowers mirror their hues when the season
is right. A circular fountain graces the middle of the courtyard, and
residents can often be found seated at its edge, whiling away a few
hours.
Contents:
Atalanta
Iris
The door from Ares pushes open, and out creeps Iris, followed by her
volumous wings. The dark has fallen upon the Pallidium, the most of the
rowdies have finally crawled to bed and at this appointed hour, Iris
arrives, fully expecting to see Friend Atalanta there in the courtyard,
awaiting her. If not, then Iris will wait for Atalanta. In the time
before regular clocks, such guesses must be made.
Atalanta doesn't really creep, simply puts her hand against the gate
and pushes. She yawns though as she comes out. Yes, she likes being up
at the godawful hours of morn to take her bath, but it can be tiring.
She hasn't really bothered with her appearance too much, look like she
rolled out of bed, grabbed a towel and chiton and presented herself. A
real beauty queen we have here. She does seem a little more vulnerable
for not be the kind of alert produced by some form of sugar and
caffeine.
Footsteps, nigh-silent in the still of the morning can still be picked up upon
the marble floor. Looks like there is yet another person up at
this hour: a slightly damp pale person, a great white wing worn upon
his back with no match... and no cloak either. Not very observant of
his surroundings, Julius has his head bowed but not in the ususal meek
fashion, simply to dry his hair...
Her search image being for Atalanta, Iris spies the large woman first.
Then she reverts to her usual Wary, and she switches that search image
to Other. At which time, Iris sees Julius and recognizes him handily;
he's been so often in her thoughts, how could she not? Iris snaps a
wide-eyed look back at Atalanta, then once more looks at Julius. Her
wings shuttle and furl behind Iris in consternation. Two small feathers
wind off, are picked up by a small breeze and whisper away a few feet.
Atalanta pulls to an abrupt stop, registering the Other. Oh yes,
between the pair of them, Iris and Ata, that is, they've had to have
developed the awareness of other, if only to avoid being naked in
front of people. She squints, yawns again as she identifies the person.
Noting the damp skin and hair, her first thought is, thank the lares
he's already had his bath, this means Iris won't invite him to ours.
Julius lifts his head back up, a rather casual stance for the normally
recluse young man, as he drapes the towel over one arm and sighs a
content sigh of someone relaxed. Then he feels eyes. Stopping for a
moment, he looks around to see two women peering at from near the gates
of House Ares. Feeling a bit like he had been caught doing something,
a bit of that tensed paranoia creeps back into his posture as he gives
a polite nod in their direction, a whisper-soft, "Ave, Dominae," and
then figures out who they are. Oh.
Iris looks up at Atalanta, then over at Julius. Whatever Iris is
thinking, she doesn't communicate to the woman who (except for her
wings) looms over Atalanta. But Iris' gaze is questioning, and
evidently the small woman answers her own question. She lifts a hand
and touches Atalanta lightly on the shoulder, a staying gesture, before
she paces forward to close the distance between herself and the Jovian.
"Dominus." Iris' voice barely carries, probably for the better: Won't
show how her tone almost breaks in the middle of the word.
Atalanta stays where she is. Yawns again, to lean against something to
keep her upright. She does, at some point, remember that she was, in
fact greeted, so she responds in kind. "Ave, Dominus." She doesn't add
that extraneous crap about pleasant to see you and all that. Too early
for niceties.
Julius's features are passive, still relaxed and carrying that warm
aura most take with them from the Baths. "Domina... Iris," he says a
bit hesitantly, then proceeds, "I have wished to find you, for I have
just a small question to ask about the ... invitation you send me..."
his voice is halting, plucking the words from an unused portion of his
brain. The one wing twitches upon his back, moving rather ususually in
a side to side manner...
Iris swallows as she comes to a standstil, some ten or twelve feet from
the man. "I-- I hope... I hope it wasn't...Wasn't too forward." She
studies some point about halfway between herself and Julius, her hands
both finding some refuge against her ribs, and pressed there by the
opposite elbows. "I didn't mean for it to be awkward. If you don't want to
go, that's fine. I don't want to... I didn't want to embarass you,
Dominus." Iris' wings shiver with an echo of the tremor that carries in
her voice.
Atalanta gets that look on her face, that protective expression on her
face. Listen, boyo, you'll attend, you'll have a good time, or I'll rip the
other wing off you, no matter who's family you are. Her towel and
clothing hides the clenching of her fists, though, by the posture,
anyone could guess that Ata was suddenly a -lot- more alert.
Oh dear. Worry crosses Julius' neutral expression for a moment as he
explains himself, "No, please.... there is no reason to be upset." He
takes a breath and looks off himself, to one corner of the courtyard
then back. For his words, he seems a bit addled, "I... I simply need to
express my ignorance of what a... 'picnic' is. I apologise." Feeling
foolish, he takes another breath, all that relaxation melting from his
body...
Iris is utterly still for a moment. Then she swallows and one wing
twitches rather hard. Then she looks up, compassion darkening her
light-green eyes. "A meal. To..Together. To eat and talk and ..."
Selene's words echo in Iris' memory now. She just watches this man.
"It's only for fun. And you need not come, Dominus Jove. It's...
It's..." Iris draws in another breath, since she ran out, "It is only a
social thing. Unimportant, really. Somewhere away from here, where it
is so busy and I just wanted to be able to talk with you without,
without...Without everything."
Atalanta loosens up a bit, and she calls out, to give Julius a more
concrete idea of what it is, "A meal, outside, in the open, with food
that isn't too complicated, though it can be under the right
circumstances." The gushy emotional stuff, not her area. She's the
chaperone though. Just you keep that in mind, one wing wonder.
Julius's eyes follow the sound of movement first, darting to look at
the wing without moving any other portion of his body. Then back to
Iris to listen, then over to Atalanta for the same purpose. His
eyebrows twitch with thought as he nods in slow apprehension... at
least on one level. "Oh. Th-thank you. I appreciate your offer and
still plan on attending," he says neutrally, giving a quick curious
look to Iris' fluster and eyes...
Xerise steps into the living quarters from the garden.
Xerise has arrived.
Xerise slips into the courtyard: a quiet, unobtrusive figure. Just out
for that pre-dawn restless sort of walk that has been her wont as of
late.
Iris is turning into such a wreck about this thing that she was almost
hoping he'd refuse, and she could scrap the idea. It's going to be a
disaster. She's sure of it. What has happened to him, has probably
warped him forever. And it'll be terrible and awful and awkward and
he'll hate Iris forever and... Iris manages to keep her gaze steady
back on Julius, and she manages to shove her wings both into the
smallest possible wing-unit, and she manages to smile. "I'm glad. I
mean--If you decide you don't want to, then just say so and it's
not...It's OK. I mean, I'll understand." She won't. But she'll try.
"I--ah...We had wondered, I had wondered...When it might be good for
you? To...Ah. Do this."
Iris stands somewhere near the middle fo the courtyard, in the pre-dawn
hours, holding a very odd conversation with Julius. Near the doors to
her house, Atalanta rests, stifling yawns and Watching. Capital W.
Atalanta smiles faintly at her friend, and all that yammering of Iris.
In anyone else, she'd sneer, but it's her friend, and so, in Iris, it's
cute. Not that sort of cute, not the flannel and hiking boots type
cute, though it's probably been said about Ata and her, uh, mannish
ways. Her wings rustle somewhat though, as she straightens up,
stretching somewhat, before leaning again against the gate.
The more Iris gets upset, the more Julius seems curious... then
concerned. His bright blue eyes shift a bit from side to side,
wondering what exactly one does in a situation like this and simply
asks in a slightly worried fashion, "Is there... something wrong
Domina?" he coughs after speaking lighting into his hand...
Xerise keeps her wings tucked beneath - a glance spared for those
holding conversation near the middle. Steps take her past the doors
leading to House Ares, and they are given a longer glance before she
continues onwards. Looks like she's making a circuit.
Iris glances over and sees Xerise. Though the woman provides a
distraction from the immediate, Iris has to suppress a mental groan
before she looks a bit more solidly back to Julius. Whatever
association Xerise has in Iris' mind did embolden Iris enough that she
can manage a bit stronger of a voice: "I'm fine, Dominus. I'm fine. I'm
just...Ah. I am unused to how to go about asking...Asking...Well."
Iris drags in another breath. "I didn't mean to disturb you, your --
drying, Dominus. Perhaps you couuld decide on a time and let me know.
Sometime." Iris is no doubt going to review this conversation and
bludgeon herself for her awkwardness.
Oh very likely, and Atalanta will probably agree, out loud even,
breaking that law about friends who lie and make you feel better. No,
no, not our girl. She does let her gaze follow Xerise, and her eyes
narrow slightly. All right, old bat, that's enough. Move along, nothing
to see here. No snooping.
Xerise is not snooping, miss-stick-up-her-butt, thank you very much.
She's simply walking someplace that's rather safer to walk than the
streets of Haven. She hasn't even looked over after the inital glance.
Her thoughts are elsewhere this fine very early morning.
Julius is the last to look to Xerise, still puzzling what the anxiety
from Iris is all about. But, he's been taught properly it seems as he
gives a nod towards the Januarian in polite acknowledgement. Then back
to business, "I am... unused to answering, it seems as well." He speaks
simply without any of the emotion and tenson brought forth, "And... I
really have no trouble discussing this now-unless you are.. I'm sorry,
I must be disturbing you..." his words come one right after the other,
as he corrects himself as he speaks, giving a small shake of his head
and waits for your dismissal.
Iris draws a sharp intake of breath and glances back at Atalanta for a
moment, apologetically. Then she looks at Julius. "Will you walk with
me for a moment, please, Dominus Jove?" Iris glances toward the garden,
mercifully darker, "Out there? But a moment of your time?"
Atalanta levels her regard on Iris. Chaste. Remember? You're supposed
to be -chaste-, no walks in dark gardens with young men, particularly
those with one wing. Besides, that means she'll get left with Xerise,
to have to chat, engage in small talk, you can't imagine what a torture
session that will be.
That would be truly horrible, because Xerise and Atalanta's
conversations tend to take all of a minute and a half. And then, the
uncomfortable silence. Xerise continues on her walk, a polite nod given
as she glances over once more and catches Julius's nod. And then -
more walking. At least it's excercise...
Julius blinks as he is not passed over as he thought would happen and
nearly reflect that in his face. But, still he remains impassive,
speaking softly. "C-certainly, Domina," he gives a gesturing nod for
Iris to lead him where she wishes.
Iris decides that this was probably another bad idea, and she
congratulates herself for, at least, being consistant. Without further
word, she steps out. The primaries of her wings drag on the cobbles
behind her.
Iris strolls out of the living quarters and heads into the garden.
Iris has left.
Strolling out of the living quarters, you emerge into the garden.
Garden - Palladium - Haven
Water droplets spray upward from a marble fountain, glinting
like diamonds when the sunlight streams in and patterns the ground.
A trellis overhead holds grapevines that shade the paths below,
mingled with a wild tangle of rosebushes. In the warm months, they
bloom in a riot of color; ranging from a red so deep it's almost
black, to the purest white bud delicately laced with veins of pink.
Petals are strewn over the walkways, and their scent perfumes the
air with a heady aroma that is vaguely seductive.
Warm sunlight or the cooler glow of the moon reflects off the
marble columns supporting the various structures of the Palladium,
yet it is easy to forget a world beyond this garden. A few stone
benches provide 'places' where visitors may sit and converse, or
simply absorb this rich tapestry of sight, smell, and sound.
Contents:
Iris
A reflection in the fountain
Obvious Exits:
Julius follows quietly behind you, still impassive despite the
inner working of his thoughts as to what all this is about...
Iris traipses along as if she leads a favorite animal to slaughter,
selecting a more isolated spot /far/ from rose-bushes or Iris'
personal bane, any trellises. There she turns and faces you, gaze
flicking from your face to your hands. "I'm sorry, Dominus. I will
be honest with you, because I think you deserve it. I want to learn
more about you. I admire what you have been through, and what you
must be, to have endured it, and how you yet face what you face. I
find you fascinating. I-- I am not...I do not play the games well,
that the other nobles play, and I wasn't sure how to...To let you
know this. I don't want you to think you have to do this, and I don't
want you to do it because I'm so nervous and overwrought about this.
I'm just... That's just me. I'm sorry. I did not know how else to go
about it."
Julius blinks, an expression of mild surprise and somewhat of
understanding placed upon his features. He is silent for a time, poised
as if to say something but unsure... "Oh," he settles on, handed the
trepidation you carried just a moment before like a hot potato. "Then...
the-.... I see." He puts himself back in order, a nervous sort of
relaxation, nodding to something he's thought of. "I... I do not wish
to cause you grief, Domina, and if you wish not to ... 'picnic'..."
he ponders if that is a verb or not, and places that on the list of
What to Ask Selene Later as well, "then it can easily be called off."
That was easy, the rest is as so. "As for myself... if-... you... may
ask questions and I will not be offended." he looks back at you rather
openly, wondering why, of all men, he...?
Atalanta enters the garden from the living quarters situated off to
the right.
Atalanta has arrived.
Iris stands off to the side, with Julius, facing him. The two are
some distance from either rose-bushes or trellises, and they speak
quietly, not quite as haltingly.
Atalanta comes to stand in the doorway to the Living Quarters, either
she's deserted her conversational partner, or has been abandoned.
Either way, time's a-wastin'. The longer this takes the more opportunity
to be seen naked in the baths. Something she's not looking forward to.
Besides, she's nosy.
Iris's wings shiver and pull against her back, then begin to gradually
tilt out, as their weight defies Iris' stamina to keep them held up,
or stiff, for any length of time. "No no, I'm happy you said you would...
I just don't know how ... I just don't want you to ... To -- " Iris
just shakes her head, losing her words in a little renewed burst of
nervousness. She might well be able to read that expression on his
face, and its mutely voices a question she's not really sure she wants
to answer. Iris shuts her eyes and opens them again. "You were kind
to me, before. And you've been so kind, so ...So very noble. And what
I see here, is the product of what I cannot see, as it has been tested
through time. Symmetry does not mean inner beauty."
Julius blinks. "You keep being so eerily wise...!" ;)
Iris grins. It has /no/ effect on Atalanta. So you best not tell me, because I might start using it more. :)
Atalanta says, "Who says it has no effect on Ata? She just doesn't let you know or you would do it even more and who wants to listen to that -all- the time? :)"
Julius is stunned for a moment, caught again in the truth the woman
speaks... but this time it's a bit harder to swallow. His head hangs,
letting hew word hang in the air with no answer for a moment, a deep
breath exiting his chest with a heavy guilt. "Though I do not share
your opinion of... nobilty... there is not much else to me that what
I appear. I do not know what you see, nor can I hcange it, but I do
not wish to appear as anything more."
Who says it doesn't? Even if it doesn't, it sure as hell helps a lot.
That whole one wing business is just ghoulish to look at. In any case,
she'll just keep her opinions to herself right now and let Iris have
her 'moment'.
As if she is reprimanded -- however gently -- by the man's words so
easily brushing off her own, Iris steps back and awkwardly shifts her
wings again. She drops her gaze and nods. "I'm sorry, then. And..."
Iris finally manages. "I'm Augustin." Nobility. Iris flushes darkly
and reaches to brush her fingers over her rather scraggly early-morning
hair. "I'm sorry to have bothered you, Dominus Jove." She takes another
step and then turns, too flustered and unhappy to try to manage anything
more. Iris doesn't see Atalanta, but heads instead for the baths.
Julius looks up, startled from his own dark demons to see just a glimpse
of that unhappiness on Iris' features... and know that he is the cause
of it. Any composure he had marshaled is gone as he gets upset in her
name, this new name he knows a just a little about out of nobility and
deed, calling out a hoarse, "Wait..." hoping she'll hear and maybe he
can help... somehow... guilt drives him to make this right.
Atalanta crosses her arms and just glares at Julius. Now look what
you've done. Listen, buddy, you better march right over there and
apologize or it'll be a plucking for you. Very good. Now keep it up
before I kick your ass.
Iris does falter in her steps, but she doesn't stop completely.
"I'm sorry." Iris almost falters to a stop, but she doesn't quite.
Instead she notices Atalanta and /her/ frown, and Iris rightly
guesses that her friend was privy to the entire conversation. Atalanta
can read Iris all too well, and Iris hears the disparaging words of
that woman ring in her ears. And the arguments that Iris just presented,
also spoken to Atalanta: That about symmetry and beauty and that within
and without, and there being no correlation. And now Iris feels, rightly
or not, that this person who has occupied so much of her consideration
has just swept that away. Had Iris intended to stop will now be in doubt.
With Atalanta as the witness, with Atalanta quite possibly being right
and even with Julius call heard, Iris' great awkward wings unfurl and
she launches up. A terrible take-off, none-the-less Iris manages to take
to the air.
Julius knows something is lost, looking up at Iris as she takes to the
air. Now is most likely the only moment in his life has Julius wished
so badly for flight his back aches with the effort, calling a bit louder
but no more audible, "Please..."
Atalanta breaks from her pose, and takes one, two, three fluid steps,
wings swooshing. It's a sign of her training that hasn't left her, or
she hasn't left it. Something like that. Either way, in a matter of
seconds, she is in the air. She doesn't call out, nothing like that.
That smacks too much to junior high or the Empyrean equivalent, but
she does catch up in short order.
Iris is perhaps the only Empyean /with/ wings that flies worse than
those without, given her lack of much musculature and her general
lack of gross-motor coordination. She is caught up with, but is wholly
unaware of her persuit.
Julius is on the ground, useless once more. He looks up to see
Atalanta catch up to Iris, then looks back down to the ground... where
he belongs, he thinks, eyes looking towards the noble's living quarters
once it seems he might be unwanted...
Atalanta pumps an extra couple of times so that she can essentially be
in front of her friend as they fly. Synchronized flying, Olympics of
3902. (Not really, but, could have been!) In any case, she says in a
voice that carries over the noise of flying, but not the level of a
yell or something that Julius might hear, "Iris. Land now and go back
there and talk to that man, or I will do it for you, either landing or
the talking. I'm better at one than the other, and I -know- you don't
want me to talk to him."
Actually, the fact that the night nearly blinds Iris, and then on top
of that the sudden appearance, through rather blurry vision, of the
larger form of Atalanta, does more than the words. Iris' wings flare out,
stalling her forward momentum and parachuting her to land, with a thud,
on the roof of the structure of the bathhouse. The items that Iris was
carrying -- a towel and clothes wrapped up in that towel, bounce out of
her hands and fall to the ground. As if this scene isn't humilating enough,
there's Iris' skivies on the floor, for God and Everyone to see.
Hopefully they won't look. Likely, they won't get titilated.
Julius walks in measured steps back to the living quarters, neither
lagging nor sprinting but making a good pace and feeling like the
world's biggest heel. His head is bowed and any possible comfort he
might have gotten out of his bathing earlier had now been laquered over
by his ususal unease, guilt and self-loathing. All this causes him to
nearly miss the thud Iris makes on the roof of the baths, his eyes looking
up from the ground a second after he hears it, far more worried about
the person than the garmets she carried, and he pauses from his exit to
make sure nothing was injured.
Atalanta banks a turn, curving so that her landing on the baths is
much more gentle. As soon as she alights, she focuses on Iris, then
she points to Julius. A suggestion, oh all right, a command. She
managed to keep a hold of her clothing, of course, but once she's made
her point, she lets her wings act as sail as she drops to the ground to
collect the new gargoyle's skivvies before they can be seen by everyone.
God and the lares looked, but weren't very impressed and aren't likely to
deliver any information to anyone from the great beyond about it.
Iris glances up, seeing Julius -looking- at her. Things could be worse,
Iris supposes in that wry part of her mind that runs a wane commentary
on all things that happen to Iris. Things could be worse, Iris could
have broken her wing or leg or something. Things could be better; she
could have knocked herself out and wouldn't have to face this man again.
Iris dips her head downs, draws her hand across her face and then launches
off the roof, letting her wings carry her in a feeble, trembling glide to
not-quite-crash into the ground, fairly near Julius. Iris speaks to Julius
in the Garden, Take II. Except this time Iris isn't sure what to say. She
sidelongs a look over to the man and then looks down. "I did not mean to
upset you, Dominus Jove, and I apologize for my exit." Her words
might be audible to Julius, certaintly won't be to Atalanta.
Julius misses the command once Iris has been shown to be alright from
her landing, turning back to the arches. After all, he is the one to
get her so upset and obviously must be unwanted (so he thinks),
dismissed earlier with his calls after ignored. At her voice, he stops, rather
surprised she can tolerate him. His head lifts up to look at Iris with
a penitent gase. "It is I who should be apologising, not you, Domina.
I have been the one to cause you upset and deeply do apologise for my
actions and words this evening if they trouble you. It is your right
to leave or dismiss me as you wish and I shall abide by that." He is
sorry, but polite as he waits for the verdict.
Atalanta tries not to look as if this is the stupid way to go about
things. She has a wistful moment of wishing that Iris had indeed fled
and Ata got a chance to talk to the fellow. There'd be none of this
namby-pambying around. 'She likes you. Break her heart, I break every
bone in your wing, before I rip it off. Now, be nice, send her a poem
or two and a flower and you'll be all right.' Nothing ever goes Ata's
way. The world would be so much more efficent if she ran things.
Iris's wings curl around her, completing her subdued demeanor. "No,
Dominus. You owe me no apology for speaking what you believe is the
truth. There is honor in that. And you did not mean to--- That is, I
am upset because of what I thought. What I had hoped and thought and
you have only acted as you must. You were honest. I can ask no more,
nor can I be angry at you for speaking this. I am sorry to have
troubled you." Iris' wing dips down to cut off her face from his line
of sight, even if he could see it that well in this darkness.
Julius answers quietly, looking slightly confused. "But... you
haven't troubled me. In fact, you have treated me as no one else
has... like a ... person. I do want to thank you for that. Please,
do not worry about troubling me at all..." he coughs lightly before
continuing, mind over matter as he forces himself to speak more
words than he usually does and begins to tax an injured throat.
"All I see... is that I am upsetting you, by what manner or form
I do not know. I do not know what you think... or had hoped and ...
only that I cause you anxiety... to shrink back and apologise for
things I do not understand."
Ah, it's too bad Ata can't hear this. She, as always, would have
opinions that she has little qualms about sharing. Of course she
could still, because this is taking -much- too long. How long does
it take to show someone your interest. She knows of men -and- women
who would be well into more intimate things by this point. They're
common, of course, but really. Speed it up, quit your yapping. Let's go.
Small motion of Iris' hand behind her wing. She clears her throat
and draws in a breath, then shakes her head. "I am...Only being
silly. And awkward. Clumsey with words and with social mores and
rules and what is done and what I want and there's no reason at
all that you should understand what I am doing or thinking, Dominus,
because I hardly know myself. I am sorry. I..." Iris finally lowers
that wing again and looks at the man. Well, she's already humiliated
herself in front of one Jovian -- the Empyror. That was last year.
Guess Iris could make an annual event of it, bare her heart as much
as she can stand and let another Jovian suggest some other,
alternative venue. "I-- From-- I... I..." Iris tries again, after
another breath: "I like you. From the words I have spoken with you,
in the bath. From the way you were, here in the garden. From what
Dea Acesius has said of you, Dominus Jove. I want to learn more of
you. I hoped that when I did, that I would...Like you more. And you
would like me and..." The tonal quality of Iris' voice stops; she now
speaks in a whisper. "And I do not know, after that. But I had hoped
it would start with a picnic. That I could spend some time with you.
And so that it would not appear...Appear...So that there would be no
rumours that nothing else was happening, Atalanta said she would go."
Too bad Julius' knowledge of Empyrean courtship are simply memories
from when girls were 'icky'. Too bad his sense of self-worth nears
the soles of his sandals. Too bad he has so little social
interaction and even smaller understanding of emotions than Iris
herself. Yes, too bad indeed for Iris' words are only stored away to
be examined later as to what exactly she seems so upset about. At
face value, things seem okay, aside from any rebuking he might feel
for attention laid upon one so ignorant, broken and abused as he.
He takes a measured breath, gathering thoughts, and after another
small cough, he speaks. "If.... you still wish my presence at your
picnic, I would... be very glad to attend." his eyes seek hers in
the dark to express his sincerity, looking away to the floor as he
adds, "And... I do hope this ... might help to ease your...
understanding... and ease your apologies..." his head dips a bit
lower as he fully expets her to take off again, eyes closing.
Iris tries, tries hard to read his voice, to understand if he does
speak true, or if this is some...Some form of pity taken upon her.
Julius speaks these words, then he drops his head again. Iris doesn't
understand. "Have I...Said something wrong?"
Julius looks back up, wishing internally to the Kronian that it
would feel like someone did something right between the two of them,
take away this great awkward feeling that seems to sit with him and
enable him to understand what he should do. What he should say or
act like... he looks a bit startled at your question despite his
thoughts and is quick to say, "No... no, please, not at all..."
Atalanta is pained, what's more, she looks it. No, she can't hear
most of this, but she can just tell that this is so awkward,
there's not even words for it. More likely though, she's in pain
because she knows that she's going to have to suffer through these
scenes on a regular basis and she's not sure if she can stand for
that. Again, the brief thought comes that she could end this all
now, if she wanted to. That's it. She stomps over to the pair,
"All right, look it, Dominus. She likes you, in a poem writing,
flowers and candy, gooshy, kissy face sort of way. You're
interesting to her and she sees something deep and interesting in
your soul and I suppose there's something about that one wing of
yours." She seems dubious on this point, "Iris, this man has not a
clue of how to act. And frankly, I probably scare him to death."
She'll take the arrogant route, rather than assume he's laughing
at her. After all, he's only got one wing. "Is that everything?"
She looks between the pair, adding belatedly, "No, you've said
nothing wrong." She confides in Julius, almost friendly like, "Oh
yes, and if you break her heart, I'll rip your wing off. She's the
nicest person ever and doesn't need bad stuff." Winding this all up,
she looks to Iris, "Are you coming to the baths?"
On Karma alone, the world owes Iris another one of those freebie
moments where the earth will open up and swallow her and maybe, if
she's lucky, might spit her out somewhere else where no one would
ever have heard the names of Jove or Augustin, much less Iris or
Julius or Atalanta. Iris flushes becomes so dark, her vasodialation
so stark and widespread that she quite nearly faints. One of Iris'
wings does abruptly flop to the ground and the other nearly does so.
Iris, huge olive-green eyes even wider than usual, turns to stare at
Atalanta in absolute horror. Then, unwillingly, she makes herself
look at Julius. That Atalanta speaks the truth is evident in Iris'
expression, in her reaction. She finally manages a quick indrawn
breath, as she pulls that flopped wing back up, only to tangle it
in a nearby trellis.
Ah, the Lares have blessed Julius for once in his lack of
understanding or he would certainly join Iris in prayers for large
deep hole. As it seems, he only looks at the abrupt young woman as
if she had grown a fourth head and told him he was going to Khalid's
birthday dinner as a high priest. And if that wasn't enough, his eyes
jolt and jerk to look at Atalanta with far more concern after her
threats, paling ever so slightly in the night. Confronted, threatened,
confused, he slowly looks back to Iris and meets her gase intently,
hoping someone will speak soon because if it has to be him, he is
sure to place his one remaining wing in his mouth and doubtlessly get
himself killed. His eyes communicate his fears, as well as an openness
to the woman who started all of this, Iris, trusting in her to lead...
or maybe the two of them will be drug through this by Atalanta. He
swallows softly... sore throat and all... you think.
Atalanta leans over, casually and helps Iris extract her wing. Sure,
she knows she might have overstepped the line there, a touch, but
it's for the best. Really, they'll both see it like that in a while.
Once they've recovered. It gets everything out in the open. Once she's
done, she hands Iris' bundle of clothes, including the skivvies to her.
Then she gives them an expectant look. "So, you will come to the picnic,
yes? Shall we arrange the date now? Perhaps next Wednesday?" She nods
as though this is perfect, then adds, "I could bring the girls as well."
Satisfied with this idea, she gestures between the pair, then steps away,
as she says, "I'll leave the two of you to talk," though she does hint,
"It will be light soon, Iris, more people in the baths." As though
being naked in front of anyone else other than Ata could possibly be
more embarrassing than this. Then she goes to stand near the entryway
to what their final destination should be.
Iris sees him staring at her. Is it disbelief? And he looks over
at Atalanta again; Iris does read the fear. When he looks back at
her, Iris -- whose wing is so easily manipulated by anyone other
than herself -- just remains numbly silent while Atalanta.../finally/
leaves. Though, Iris has no idea where to even start, on damage
control. No idea.
Julius says simply to Iris, eyes still locked on hers, in his soft
hoarse voice. "N-next Wednesday then....?"
Atalanta considers for a moment whether she will have to step in
again, as Iris seems to have gone into shock. She stands at the
ready to do her duty by her friend, should it be called on.
Go, Atalanta. Leave. Go. Please. Iris simply isn't sure she can
endure any more of this. Ever. Again. This has to have used up her
entire store of Willfully Submitting To Utter Humilation, and
Iris really was doled out a lot of this, early on. "Next Wednesday."
Will she leave now? Iris doesn't look over at Atalanta.
Julius nods in understanding, blinking dry eyes. His gase does
finally shift as he can feel the ever-vigilant Atalanta and her
ready gase upon the two of them, and takes a deep breath. "I should
leave you to your bath, Domina." He bows formally, giving another
careful look to Atalanta, then back to Iris, mouth nearing a wan smile.
In retrospect, they all will laugh... later.
Atalanta doesn't leave, you see, because they have an appointment
to be in the baths. And if you get Ata alone, you can bawl her out.
The longer you stand in front of Romeo, here, the more embarrassed
you'll be. Think of it this way, this makes that little incident of
you trying to fly away, look like nothing.
Iris's eyes shut for a moment, while she draws her breath and licks
her lips. Then she opens her eyes again and, in a voice gone utterly
hollow, "Good night, Dominus." No apology this time. Iris bit it back
and is mentally chewing on it. She stares at Julius, not looking over
to Atalanta.
Julius replies, "G-good... night." and takes a step back, turning and
departing not out of desparation nor uncomfort nor anything else
misconstrued as a desire for distance between he and Iris. Blinking a
few more times, he realizes he should be tired but knows sleep will
not be for a long ...long... time. So much to think about he nearly
forgot to exchange pleasantries with Atalanta, stopping in his tracks
and well making sure to be polite to the waiting woman. "Good night to
you as well, Domina." he says. mind recalling her words... every bone..?
Not knowing why that sounds so frightening to man whose seen worse, he
nods and heads for the arches as an exit.
Atalanta continues to radiate contentment that she, in fact, has
done The Right Thing. Saved them from -months- of awkwardness. See,
have it all at once and never deal with it again. What could be
better? Besides Ata demonstrating that she has some knowledge of
what the words 'tact' and 'subtlety' mean. She calls out rather
cheerfully, "Good night, Dominus."
Iris waits until Dominus Jove has turned again before she drops
her face into her hands with a soft whimper. Her wings curl around
her, then, trembling. Nothing more, after that first sound. More
than several small coverts disengage from Iris' slightly-shaking
wings, and float to rest on the ground like so many fallen petals.
Ah, spring.
Julius exits calmly, left to ponder oh so much in the quiet of
his chambers....
*fin*
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