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the Rift

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Lace the Silverthorn Posts: 459

Deceased atk: 5 | def: 9 | dam: 5.5

Stallion :: Equine :: 15.3 hh :: 14 HP: 65 | Buff: NOVICE

Fajira :: Plain White Dragon :: Fire Breath Chan

#17

09-13-2012, 05:25 AM

LACE

Who, in his mind,
has not probed the dark water?

The droplets that fell endlessly from the clouded sky were cold. The wind was cold, and the upset waves that nagged at the beach and tried to swallow it whole held a chill that could seep the strength out of the strongest of land-living creatures. It was cold, but Lace didn't mind it because it was only a physical chill that wasn't going to hurt him in the long run. Not now; because within a fire had been lit, by the kindness of a shadow. The flames were small and frail still but continuously fed by a meticulous patience and small touches that made the skin of his cheek tingle, sheltered and protected by glimmering white wings. It was a strange situation, at once both simple and endlessly complicated that stemmed from one undeniable fact. He wasn't alone.

Did she know what her kind words were doing to him? Lace realized that he was thawing out at a rapid pace, much too quick for his battered mind to really handle. It couldn't be good to open up too much to one he wasn't familiar with, it wasn't safe. As much as he wanted to rely on Mirage - and he did, it was so tempting to just place every little hope he harbored on her steady shoulders - it just wouldn't be wise. He could get hurt, and who would be there to help him out of it? But at the same time it was too late to withdraw from her, to deny her access to his mind and hide things from her. It was a complicated situation...
Not really. A step at a time, is all. You won't be going anywhere, and neither will she. The steady thought securely placed a lid on his thoughts as they tried to spin off into a loop once more. Lace nudged Fajira with his mind in silent gratitude, as always amazed by how easily she managed to find the solution to any problem. She was right. There was no need to rush into anything; he could take his time, listen and watch and make a decision when he was ready.

So he listened, taking in the sound of Mirages voice and nodding as she once more talked about her Qian. Again he couldn't help but notice how she brightened once the subject turned to the group; he smiled at her sudden burst of energy, glad to find her mood brightening. Actually, she almost seemed bubbly, something he hadn't expected from the devious mare. It only showed how little he knew about her. Who knew though.. perhaps he'd get the opportunity to change that.

The stallion had to think for a while before he could answer her question, in the meantime nibbling casually at the tip of her forelock. He wasn't quite accustomed to be touchy-feely with others, but right now he wasn't going to complain; this wasn't a situation that conformed to the norm, anyway.
"You have done a lot for me even though we barely know each other" he mused out loud, allowing her to understand his trail of thought - at least part of it, since he wasn't going to mention his feeling of debt towards her. "It is the least I can do to hear you out properly, and give your offer a thorough consideration." That much he would tell her, true but not the whole truth. He needed to keep something to himself, as not to loose himself completely.

The grullo tucked away the information she offered into his mind to be digested later when he was in a more stable state of mind. One implication of what she had said couldn't quite be overlooked however, and he chose his words carefully when addressing it, not wanting to bring out a storm over him once again. It had been quite enough of hurtful words already today.
"It makes it a somewhat fragile group, does it not." he said and looked at her with eyes that without his knowledge seemed piercing, clear as honey as he considered the structure of the organization. "If you ultimately are the Qian and the ideals and foundation of the group is you, then most of the bonds that keep that group together will be connected to you. That is to say, it stands and falls with you." The tone he spoke with was somewhat absent as he tried to picture the structures in his mind. No matter how he tried to twist and turn the problem he came to the same conclusion, that it was Mirage that was the center and the only thing that kept the others together. Perhaps it wasn't entirely correct, but from the information given it was the only answer he could come up with.

The stallion gazed at his company with a thoughtful expression. Was she really intending to go to war with something that fragile? If she fell or was captured, it might all come crashing down. Those bonds might make them all strong while Mirage was there, but if she wasn't around? It might turn the group into nothing but a gathering of strangers with little in common but a few ideals. Protect and be protected... It was good and well, but protect against what?

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