Nareth's promise

“I was sorry to miss your party, Larissa. I was.. unwell.” Omega pauses “I do hope it went well?”
“Oh, I hope you are feeling better. It was fun. Joah has a pretty home.”
“I wouldn't expect any different from her, I'm sure it's delightful.I am much improved now, thank you.” Omega leans down, still patting GrrBrool as he sleeps.
Larissa smiles but leans forward to look at Omega. "Is there anything I should know about?"
Omega smiles at her. “Nothing you need worry yourself with, M'dear. You have more than enough to concern yourself with. How are you feeling?”
Larissa tilts a head and smiles brightly. "I am well, my Lady. And I have decided on the name Abigail." she chuckles. "And then Joah told me it means Father's Joy." She grimaces but smiles weakly with a childish shrug as her gaze sweeps an empty chair. "But I like the sound of it, still. And well. I do hope she is gonna be joy for all."
Omega smiles. “It's a beautiful name. Well chosen”
Larissa's smile brighten more. "Oh, I am glad you like it too"
Omega nods.“I do, very much.”
Larissa's expression gets more serious. "Lady, I have a concern, indeed."
“Concern?”
“I know I cant raise her here... And I feel she will grow up fast. But somehow, I am not worried. Still, I need to figure out where to protect her childhood, however short that might be if she continues to grow this fast.
Omega smiles at her. “You would both be welcome at the Chateau, Larissa.”
Larissa 's eyes grow wide "Oh. Why I have not thought about that?" She reaches out to her hand. "You are most generous. Again. I wish I can somehow... What can I do for you?"
“You can be well, and take proper care of yourself.”
GrrBrool twitches his back legs, running in a dream.
Larissa nods seriously with a sigh. "It is not always easy, but I am full of expectations. I don't know... I have this energy to do something..."
Like what, Larissa?
Larissa tilts a head. "Like… cataloguing the books. A whole new system"
Larissa frowns at some books on the upper shelves. "Did you know, that some can’t behave and will never go back to their proper alphabetical places?"
Omega chuckles. “you're nesting!”
Larissa frowns. "Nesting?" She smiles slowly. "Oh"
She looks up the shelves again. "Still..."
Severus Seversky sighs heavily and vanishes through a chill shadowed rift
Omega Althouse glances at the empty chair and shakes her head a little..
GrrBrool Lykin shivers in his curl.
Larissa shivers at the chill too. "Ah, the stylish exits. I do miss those…"
Omega mutters something unprintable.
Larissa raises an eyebrow. "Has he offended you?"
Omega peeks at GrrBrool to make sure he's still dozing, then turns to Larissa, speaking quietly… “Boys.. what can you do? Can't live with them, can't sell them for scientific experiments.”
Larissa chuckles, but stays silent for a while. She finally stretches and asks with an awkwardly pretended nonchalance. "Omega, I believe you meet Nareth... more frequently... How is she?"
“I saw her today… She is well.. we spoke of you as a matter of fact.”
Larissa suddenly smiles. "She asked about me?"
“She worries for you, Larissa, and perhaps, doesn't quite... trust herself. I have never seen her show concern over such a thing before.” Omega smiles. “Perhaps, perhaps, we're getting to her, a little.”
Larissa smiles warmly and nods, showing Omega a little note.
The Lady smiles, getting quite a misty look. “Oh my. will you look at that.” Larissa nods without words.


Nareth gives to Larissa a promise: I will do my best to insure that no action of mine hand, and no omission of action by mine hand, brings your daughter to harm. And I shall watch over her, when I may.


Omega holds it still “This is… practically a... love letter.”
Larissa nods and swallows “She sent it via Joah...” She puts away the note into a little pouch, carefully tucking it into a hidden pocket.
“She cares for you a great deal, Larissa. More than even she knows, I think.”
Larissa nods and inspects her bracelets in great detail, tracing the patterns. "I have not forgotten her. I can see that one can love more than one. And I think Lorne misunderstood... my choice of leaving." She blinks and looks up. "Please tell Nareth, when you see her, that I asked about her."
“I most certianly will, m'dear.”

Truth, no nightmares

Larissa stirs in her rare sleep, again and again his face haunting her, again and again the memory of his presence burning her insides. She sleeps at a sanctuary at the ryder base. Everything smells of petrol and fumes, her sense of smell overly sensitive these days. She wakes with a sudden gasp, swallowing the urge to throw up, and looks up at her swollen belly. She closes her eyes, remembering the dream she just had, seeing him and his kitty happily. He cups this catperson's cheeks with both hands, kissing her deeply, then drawing His arms around her, squeazing her tight "My Kitty will have the mark of no one so blind, and so ignorant of the value of life that they should even consider for a moment you can have had a price put on you. If I was delivered the souls of a thousand generations of the world's most beautiful women it would not buy you from Me."

Larissa squeezes her eyes shut, knowing there was a reason for her soul to come back to her when she saw them so happily curled up in the couch of the library, and she nods in understanding, swallowing the sour taste and blows her nose again. She learnt the final lesson. She is not an apprentice any more, nor a master. She is just herself, all that she was before, and smiles. Her soul finally flickers inside her, at last not just a feel of useless ashes and dust. She opens her eyes, swaying back and forth, nodding and whipering to herself. "We will be fine."

A snap in the face

Diner

Storm

Lady Omega

Larissa and Omega sit in the diner, as Larissa expressed a wish for a private talk with her. After ordering the meal and the polite rounds, Larissa decides to cut to her concerns with a sigh.

"I assume you have heard about me...." Omega smiles quietly “I hear many things”

“You know how much I love Lorne, and I struggled. I was jelous of every pebble in the city, Lady Omega. But I handled it, and I just wanted to love, without any gain. I am just overwhelmed.” She stops, swallowing. “And then with Nareth... That was unexpected. There are so many ways to love. “ Lar struggles with how to continue, and speaks quietly. “When I told her I was pregnant, she was so mad. Something went cold inside me, I did not want to hurt her feelings, I was so happy and wanted to share. I just stood there”

”... pregnant?”

Larissa looks up to a rare expression of surprise in Omega.

”that.. that I had not heard.”

”Yes... I thought you have heard.” Larissa blushes.

”Congratulations?”

Larissa Starostin breathes faster.. "Oh" she pauses and looks at her shyly "Thank you..."

Omega Althouse hesitates, almost afraid to ask.. "and.. Lorne?"

Larissa Starostin blushes more and nods, not looking her in the eye, but glowing, slowly looking at her.

"I.. well. The very best to both of you. You will have whatever assistance you need, Larissa."

Larissa bites her lower lip, concentrating on the salad, her hands trembling a bit. "I...thank you."

"Strange.. how new life... even in this place.. " Omega Althouse shakes her head, unable to articulate it...

Larissa nods, looking around. "I cant find words Lady Omega, how happy I was"

"Then, I rejoice in your happiness... I know Lorne loves you very much. "

Larissa Starostin looks into her eyes at those words.

"And I know you have struggled.. with his affections. You must remember.. in the same way you feel love for him, and for the child growing within you... one love does not diminish another. "

Larissa nods, blinking away a tear, her hands trembling stronger "Nareth..."

Omega nods… "There is love.. even in this place.. love. Love and life. For some. "

Larissa exhales a considerate amount of air, relieved and stays silent for a while. She adds then, fast as she can, as if even saying it hurts. "Nareth said she should rip it out of me."

Omega Althouse shakes her head..

"Three days ago… And I... understood her. But could not accept she does not understand me. "

"I will not allow that to occur. "

"I think Legion.... " Larissa hesitates.

"and I think.. nor would she, not truly. " Omega is still shaking her head.

"I never told Lorne what she told me… But Legion appeared after that, lady Omega"

"I do not think you should hide such a thing from him. Perhaps she spoke in shock, in haste.. Nonetheless. If some harm were to come to you, and Lorne found, this threat had been hidden from him. He would be wroth, I think. "

Larissa nods. "She totally changed, Lady Omega. She is brainwashed."

Omega nods in agreement. "She needs help. "




"She says now I would be a good mum, Lady Omega, you were there. That is why I thought you knew"

Omega sighs "I.. I was going to say pray, but in truth, I can not pray.. but I fervently wish we ... I.. will be able to help her. "

Larissa nods with a final relief. "Thank you."

Omega closes her eyes, as a tide of resignation washes over her. "I promise you this. I will do all in my power to ensure your child's safety. All.. All in my power."

Larissa nods, her tears flowing freely on her cheeks.

Omega mutters very quietly.. "heaven help us all."

We are books, each of us

Nareth nods anxiously towards Larissa.

Larissa walks down quietly and smiles at her. "Evening, Nareth."

"Good evening, larissa. Are you...well? "

"Yes, very well, thank you. And you?"

"I am...uncertain. But that is nothing new. I was worried for you. I would have you know that I am deeply grateful for what you gave me last night. "

Larissa smiles. "I am eager to learn, Nareth, I should be grateful to you."

Nareth seems to watch Larissa a moment from behind the lenses of her goggles.
"To learn? "

Larissa shrugs. "Yes. I am curious about the world. All aspects."

Nareth nods and looks towards the fire. "It is not something which I share, but something I can comprehend. "

Larissa smiles. "By the way, what abut Toxia today? How are things proceeding or halting or whatever?"

"With regards to what, specifically? "

Larissa waves around. "Ah, anyting interesting, dear Nareth. "

Nareth thinks a moment. " I so rarely leave the library... I saw Lio earlier, but I think he's afraid of me. I saw Myriam...but the less said, the better. "

Larissa Starostin chuckles and raises an eyebrow. "Oh, why?"

"Otherwise...well, there was that man from the Coven earlier. I think he was trying to prove something...but I am uncertain what. Otherwise, I have have been sitting and watching the fire and thinking of your sacrifice. "

Larissa Starostin stares into the fire and smiles weakly.

Nareth whispers, very quietly, almost too softly to be heard, "No one's born, and no one dies, no one lives, so no one cries..."
Nareth glances towards the windows, continuing, "and we wait to see just what we will become ."

Larissa Starostin looks out the window and chuckles. "What about Myriam, Nareth? I am deeply interested in how that turns out. She was the very first I was not jelous about."

"How curious. Are you jealous of me, Larissa? "

Larissa Starostin smiles into the fire. "I am not jelous anymore Nareth. It is gone."

"But...you were. " Nareth smiles very slightly.

Larissa Starostin frowns. "I was jelous of anyone Nareth, my pride demanded it."

"Pride. I do not know pride. Not precisely. "

Larissa Starostin closes her eyes for a while. "Oh, it is quite a common one. I still have lots of it, but I am in control."

"When I was...taking joy from you last night, I saw... " Nareth trails off, uncertain. "Do you still know pain, Larissa, when you feel it? Do you know it *as* pain?"

"Oh, yes. "

Nareth nods slowly. "Tell me that you are not afraid of me, please. That is what I faer, most of all. After last night... "

"I am not afraid of you, Nareth. Why would I? "

"I am... " Nareth Nishi sighs.

Larissa chuckles. "I understand"

Nareth: "I take delight in the suffering of others. And I do not know regret or conscience...only how to pantomime those things."

Larissa leans forward. "I am not afraid of lots of things others are, Nareth. I understand your delight. It is indeed scary, I admit."

Nareth: "Lorne says that i am not evil, not truly...but I suspect he may not be speaking truthfully. "

Larissa Starostin shakes her head. "He talks his own truth."

Nareth nods. "That he does. "

Larissa laughs. "I wonder what does he consider evil"

Nareth: "I wonder that as well."

Larissa smiles. "I will have to ask him about that then. "

Nareth: "So...you asked about Myriam."

Larissa: "Yes, I did."

Nareth: "Were you not here when Omega dismissed her? "

Larissa Starostin shakes her head.

Nareth Nishi: "She demanded an apology from Nerissa, for some real or imagined slight, an apology or a duel. Omega told she she would have neither. And she was dismissed, but she was furious. She threatened some sort of retribution. I asked Lorne and Omega if I might not at least take some souvenir from her... " Nareth laughs softly.

Larissa Starostin nods. "How sad."

Nareth Nishi: "Is it?"

Larissa nods. "She was the first I was kind to."

Nareth glances at Larissa.

Nareth: "But you have been here some time, yes?"

Larissa: "I mean the first of Lorne's fresh assistants.

Nareth: Oh, I see.

Nareth: "I am uncertain what I am to Lorne. Not an assistant, though. That would be too simple. I think I may be a ward...perhaps. Something he is meant to mentor or guard. Train. Prepare, I don't know. "

Larissa Starostin shrugs. "He calls me apprentice. I call him Lorne Harlequin."

Nareth: "Apprentice. It has a nice ring. May I ask you a question, Larissa? It is personal. "

Larissa nods. "There are so many things one can learn. Oh, Nareth, please do, I love questions."

Nareth nods. "Do you love him?" She pauses "You do not have to answer, if you do not wish to do so."

Larissa's face brightens. "With all my heart, Nareth"

Nareth: "That is good. I am very glad to know that. I can feel...joy, and passion...great passion...but I do not think I am capable of feeling love."

Larissa smiles. "Great passion is beautiful"

Nareth: "I can appreciate beauty...yes. But, I wish I could know love...or hatred. So...you say you would learn?"

Larissa smiles at her. "Love does not ask questions, Nareth, love does not demand. And hatred..... well that is all about questions and demands. Still, so close to love.

"I do Nareth, I wish to learn a lot."

Nareth considers what Larissa has said.

Nareth: "From me? You know what I have to teach."

Larissa smiles at her. "Oh, you seem to be a fine teacher, Nareth, I do wish to learn from you a lot. But let me show you a beautiful gown before."

Nareth smiles. "Yes, please do."

Ashura Caudron had snuck his way into the library.. hoping he hadn't been seen. was he to be spotted leaving, it would be with a leatherbound textbook. an inventory would reveal a missing "applied nuclear theorum" book missing..

Larissa takes a mental note of that, and a library card appears in the book.

Larissa smiles to Nareth. "Ok, I will be upstairs, then, just a sec."

Nareth: "Very well. I will wait. "

Larissa Starostin changes into a beautiful golden gown and looks up, shyly. "Oh, I am sorry I didnt see you were here." She blushes.

Nareth is speechless for a moment. "It is like...the sun. It is entirely beautiful."

Larissa walks down, and turns around. "Oh, indeed."

Nareth: "It was very like the sun descending the staircase...setting in the library. "

Larissa's face brightens up. "I have not yet shown this to anyone."

"I am the first? "

Larissa Starostin nods.

Nareth Nishi: "Then I am honoured." Nareth stands slowly.

Larissa Starostin curtsies. "I am ready for some knowledge"

Nareth Nishi: "Knowledge... " Nareth glances upstairs.

Larissa Starostin nods slowly. "What we experience, becomes ours."

Nareth: "I wonder if this is the best place to teach you. The library was not entirely pleased with me. "
Larissa nods. "I understand."
Nareth: "The sentry... "

"Let's go back upstairs, Larissa. "


Nareth Nishi: "One does not need a blade.... Though I am terribly fond of them."

Larissa Starostin walks upstairs gracefully and stands. She smiles at the statement, watching Nareth’s back as she stands by the window. Nareth stares down at the street below, savouring the weight of the razor in her hand.

Nareth: "You said that, at first, I merely tickled you. I would not wish to make that mistake again. That would only waste our time."

Larissa Starostin pales slightly, but stands, her smile trembling a bit.

"I know this, Larissa. This is one true thing. We are books, each of us. "
Nareth slashes across Larissa's chest with the razor, just cloth and slicing flesh to the bone.
"Open us to any page and we are red. " Nareth smiles and slowly licks the blood from the razor's blade.

Larissa Starostin looks around trying to say something and the slash catches her off guard. Her eyes widen, but she stays silent. Nareth watches larissa's eyes very closely. "You are in pain?"

Larissa looks down at her bleeding wound, and swallows, her teeth clenched. Tears show up in her eyes, and she nods.

Nareth: "Yes...it *does* hurt. You do still know pain. But you are far better at managing it than are most. "
Nareth touches the blade to the gash in Larissa's chest, forcing the edges of the gash open still farther.

Larissa nods, slowly and clenches her fists too. She trembles, but stands, unable to watch anymore. She looks out the window.

Nareth: "It is almost more than I can endure... Not taking your life. And I wonder, if I did, could I give it back again? I have never tried to return a life. "

Larissa shakes, and falls to the ground, unable to restrain a deep groan.

Nareth: "Oh, poor thing. Stand up, Larissa. We are not done. Stand up."

Larissa Starostin shakes her head to think clearly, and she struggles up to her feet.

Nareth: "Very, very good. "

Lar sways, and balances herself with her hands reaching into the air, blood smearing all over her gown.

Nareth raises the razor again...

Larissa claims with a hoarse voice "Ah, just a scratch..."

Nareth laughs very loudly. "You have spirit...beautiful spirit. "

Nareth brings the razor down again, but this time, to Larissa's surprise, Nareth slahes open her own left wrist. "Yes... "

Larissa Starostin sways and does look surprised, reaching out to her, as if through a haze.

Nareth stares down at her own blood dripping to the stone floor.

Nareth: "Now...are you ready for something more?"

Larissa takes some steps, almost fainting, but nods, her voice still failing her.

Nareth reaches out, gently encircling Larissa in one arm to keep her from falling.
"I think I remember the way inside."

Larissa Starostin cries out in anticipation, and trembles in Nareth's embrace.
Nareth smiles... "If I knew love, I if I could know love, I might in this moment love you."


And then Nareth drives the razor into Larissa belly, forcing the blade like a dagger.
"Do not fall. Do you feel it, inside you? Just nod."

Larissa Starostin crouches a bit, and nods very slowly, wincing.

Nareth: "It is me, you know. It is only another part of me. Nareth twists the razor, slicing through bowles and driving the blade towards Larissa's spine."

Larissa Starostin breathes rapidly through her nose, gripping Nareth with both hands not to fall over.

Nareth: "I am strong. I could hold you up forever. Now, in this moment, tell me what you know." Nareth twists the blade again.

Larissa Starostin's eyes widen, and she spasms, still holding onto her, opening her mouth, and closing it again to clear her throat. She groans "I know pain"

Nareth bares her teeth, a low growl rising from her throat. "Yes...and pain is only the farthest end of pleasure. They are sisters, pleasure and pain... Forever linked, and yet so few understand." Slowly, Nareth begins to withdraw the blade.

Nareth: "You are dying, Larissa. Can you feel that?"

Larissa Starostin gets paler and paler, shaking with the exhaustion of chatting while ripped apart. Her head sinks, and her grip weakens on Nareth.

"Yes, I thought you could. And if I were to let you die, well, that would be the end of me, wouldn't it? "

Nareth slips the razor the rest of the way out and it dissolves back into her palm.

Larissa Starostin raises her head, coughing up blood instead of chuckling.

Nareth leans down and kisses her, tasting her blood. "Delicious... But...there is so little time for joy. " Nareth pulls Larissa closer. "No, you will not die this night. Not by my hand.
Nareth Nishi: Though, I can not lie...it would be joyous."

Nareth leans forward again, and with a second kiss, she begins to knit severed tissue together once again, to return spilled blood to Larissa's veins. Even the bloodstains on her dress vanish.

Larissa Starostin weakens with every move, her insides burning her alive and she faints.

Nareth feels her consciousness slipping away, and holds her limp body up. "Stay with me, child. Burn, as the fire burns downstairs."

Inside Larissa's body, organs are quickly healing....

Larissa Starostin moans, as her inner sides repair themselves, and her eyes flicker.

Nareth: "Only a few moments more. If I could take the pain for my own, oh... If I release you will you fall?"

Larissa Starostin looks up at her, and grabs her arms.

Nareth: "I'll take that as a yes."

Nareth: "It is only shock. It will pass, like rain or thunder. Let it go."

Larissa clears her throat again, as the healing is not painless neither. "That.... was...." she groans again.

Nareth: "There is great power in you."

Larissa is getting more colour, and smiles weakly. "Ah... thank you... I guess."

Nareth: "You guess?"

Larissa crouches at the memory. "Well, it hurt" she chukles.

Nareth: "Was that not the sort of knowledge you desired?"

Larissa Starostin nods. "Deeply"

Nareth: "Wait...you desire all knowledge. I remember. " Nareth looks at her own wrists, still bleeding. "I will let this bleed a bit longer... Can you walk as far as those chairs, if I keep an arm about you?"

Larissa lets Nareth help her to the chairs and falls in one.