[Dragon Mail: Alexander Varista]

[winterwhite]

[sent thursday night during this log

the paper smells a little burnt and has some streaks of ash on it, but nothing recent or alarming about it]


I will not be back tonight.

The Asha is gone. Spellswords came for him last Friday. I do not know why, but I suspect it was an attempt to contain him. They failed and he escaped. He teleported to Earth. I am going now to find him, if nothing has already happened to him.

I will come back. I promise.

Ask Ravindra or Nova to keep you company. I do not want you lonely, too.

Comments

[winterwhite]

[sent a little over half an hour later, again with different paper and a different pen. the letter smells a little vanilla-cinnamony.]

I have need of several books. I believe all of them are at the house. If not, tell me which and I will ask Fio to send the rest from the Library.

[and here is a list of about ten books, eight of which will be fairly easily found in the study. basics, most of it, but well used, varied in subject and nothing of any particular interest]

He has chosen a successor. I am to teach him before [...] the organ is passed over.

[socarnivorously]

[ he doesn't like this smell. he's not even sure what to feel about the successor part, and he is at that point of being so tired but unable to sleep that his mind isn't quite up to speed.

he focuses on locating the books instead. convenient because he's in the study already. he gathers the books, save for two, which he can't seem to find so easily. perhaps they're downstairs...

but before that, he'll send the dragon off, and it has to make several trips with the books.

he sends her list back with her, with the books found crossed out, unthinking that he might need it because he certainly doesn't remember the titles. ]

Can't find the other two. Haven't looked downstairs yet.

[winterwhite]

[the asha's asleep and she's dutifully staying awake to keep an eye on his mana levels. gabe's asleep too. maybe. she isn't really paying attention to him once he stops moving.

she checks the list and then double-checks the books that come with them]

It's all right. These will do for now. [will they? is the book on symbology- yes, there it is.] I can ask Fio for the rest.

I- is there anything I can do for you?

[it took her a bit to write that, more doodles (of penguins) and sigils on the paper]

[socarnivorously]

Come back whole.

[winterwhite]

I will.




I miss you. I miss you already. I'll come back. I'll come home. I promise.

[socarnivorously]

For every day that you're there, bring me back something. A pebble, a leaf, whatever catches your eye.

[winterwhite]

[there's not much where she is now... not much that interests her or catches her eye, but she's not in the mood, either. once it's light out, maybe, she'll take some time to go out. there's got to be something...]

Yes, I'll do that.

[socarnivorously]

What is his successor like?

[winterwhite]

[takes a minute to consider this question]

Insecure. Young, but that means little... the Asha was little more than a child when he was given the title. Accepting, but I am uncertain if he realizes the extent of what must happen.

Ah, but I woke him up. Perhaps he will in the morning.

I cannot comment, however. It must be done.

[socarnivorously]

[ insecure with a reputation for madness... ha ha ha ]

We are often not at our bests when woken.

[winterwhite]

I was not talking about you. Though it is certainly true. But I like you when you have just woken up.

[socarnivorously]

[ omg rei that 'we' was for people who are (or were once) human!! but he is endeared by her misunderstanding ]

Dim and groggy, you mean?

[winterwhite]

And warm. Usually you mumble something, too. And sometimes it takes you a long time to get out of bed. There is no rush. It is a good time to watch you.

[socarnivorously]

I'm glad you find it entertaining.

[winterwhite]

The times I have watched you wake up are among some of my favourite memories.

Thank you.

[socarnivorously]

[ arrow through the heart........

he sets his forehead down on the desk to recover...

and ends up falling asleep.



later, in the morning when he wakes up: ]

I love you.

[winterwhite]

[ah... no reply? did she take too long and he finally fell asleep?... well, that's okay... everyone is asleep now... best get back to work.



the reply comes as she's flipping through one of her books, the other two awake but non-intrusive to what she's doing, so she really isn't paying too much attention to them beyond making sure the asha stays settled

she looks at it a long moment, almost not wanting to send the paper back. it's odd to have so many people around her who have asserted themselves in her life, and to realize she has the capacity to respond to those feelings... ravindra and nova, alexander...

she wants to go home.]


I would like to love you. May I?

[socarnivorously]

[ he actually hesitates, uncertain of the answer he'll to give her. he knows the answer he should give her, but it isn't the answer he wants to give her. ]

Silly Reilanin. That's not something you need anyone's permission for.

[winterwhite]

Is it too late?

[socarnivorously]

Is what too late?

[winterwhite]

Is it too late to say these things. Now that I'm not there...

[socarnivorously]

No. Never.

[winterwhite]

I love you.