[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aRfAXko.png[/img][/center] [hr] [i][b]Date: Fourth of Velles Event: The end of the melon derby Characters: Yalen, Jocasta[/b][/i] [hr] After parting ways with Blaze of Glory for the time being, it was time for Mozaru’s students to decide how to spend the rest of their evening. With varying levels of enthusiasm, the five Biros congratulated each other on a stunning victory. Once they were done shaking hands and patting each other on the back, one by one they offered some excuse or another and broke away to take care of their own business. First Trypano, then Evander, and finally Carmillia. Perhaps the derby had fostered a spark of camaraderie among the bickering apprentices, but they weren’t quite friends yet. It was just about supper time, and with no other pressing matters to deal with Yalen was thinking about finding a place to eat. Dining in the Zeno’s household was fine and all, but these were the Trials! Every eatery in town was stepping up their game and bringing out their best seasonal dishes. Some places even had specials that they only served on a Trials year, that was how profitable the event was. There were a few places the young priest had bookmarked in his head, and his stomach agreed with his choices. [color=ffdead]“I can literally sense the hunger in your chemical signature,”[/color] Jocasta observed, appearing in the doorframe, one hand on each of its posts.[color=ffdead] “Take a look at me and you’ll see the same.”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“If you can tell how I’m feeling just by reading me, you should know when you’ve made one too many jokes about my height.”[/color] Yalen sulked. His indignation was false however, and his smile quickly returned to his face. He clasped his fingers together and stretched his arms out tiredly. Those melons really took their toll when you had to carry them halfway across the city! [color=fd5e53]“Well I don’t think either of us is an amazing cook, so what do you say we grab a bite in town? There is this bakery called Oliviere’s I have been meaning to show you.”[/color] Jocasta set hands to wheels, gliding past him towards the door. [color=ffdead]“And how do you [i]know[/i] I’m not an amazing cook?”[/color] she teased, floating her cloak off one of the pegs in the front atrium. [color=fd5e53]“Because I can literally sense when you’re burning a cake for Ayla.”[/color] Yalen replied. [color=ffdead]“I blame the oven,”[/color] chirped Jocasta, settling the light cloak about her shoulders and turning the handle. It was late and the sun had just set as she pulled the door open. While the usual Victendes option had been moved to a later time, she had her own reasons for not joining her other friends in attendance and it appeared that Yalen did as well, or perhaps not. He was just not as… complicated as a lot of other people who she knew, and it was welcome relief, even from herself at times. [color=ffdead]“Anyways, it sounds good. Sounds Revidian.”[/color] She smirked ruefully. [color=ffdead]“Good thing neither of us is Parrench, huh?”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“Asking a Miattan whether they agree with the Parrench or the Revidians is like asking the Eskandr which country is their true seat of power.”[/color] Yalen shook his head. [color=fd5e53]“Not that the politics affect my station much.”[/color] [color=ffdead]“Fair,”[/color] Jocasta snorted. [color=ffdead]“It’s just weird to think that things that never really mattered before suddenly do to some people. A lot.”[/color] The two tethered continued exchanging small talk as they made their way to their destination. There was something to be said about a big city at night. The atmosphere was unlike anything Yalen could experience in his rural hometown. It was strange to see so many lamp lights for someone whose routine was previously dictated by the movement of the sun. His eyes were drawn this way and that, admiring both the people and the scenery. [color=ffdead]“Having a good gawk there, country boy?”[/color] she teased. [color=ffdead]“It’s… kind of strange for me too, to be honest.”[/color] She let her eyes wander for a moment, steering round some rougher cobblestones. [color=ffdead]“There was always a curfew at the Refuge for everyone but us Afortunado. I remember walking the paths at night on the way to where we trained in the cenote: it was this little island of light and warmth in the middle of a vast black desert.”[/color] Other people walked along in pairs or little groups, some holding hands, some chatting and gesticulating animatedly. It occurred to Jocasta that she and Yalen constituted such a pair in the eyes of others. She shot him a little smile because that was what you were supposed to do, right? [color=fd5e53]“Ahhh, the monastery has a curfew as well.”[/color] Yalen commented, trying to steer the conversation away from any mention of the refuge. The situation there still left a sour taste in his mouth. [color=fd5e53]“Sister Denali would patrol the orphanage with a broom. We got smacked on the bum with the handle if any of us got caught wandering around. She was certainly a believer in tough love.”[/color] His hand unconsciously drifted behind his thigh as the painful memory resurfaced. A pair of students passed by Yalen and Jocasta, and one of them gave the former a polite wave. Yalen returned the gesture with a grin, recalling the fair number of times he’d lent the guy a pen in chemistry class. Until he was summoned to the Forked Tower he had never been acquainted with so many people. It was a life changing moment for him, and one that he did not regret. Ayla, Zarina, Jocasta, and Kaspar. The ragamuffin team from the desert. They weren’t the only friends he had made at Ersand’Enise, but they were undoubtedly his [i]best[/i] friends. He was coming to cherish their relationship as much as he did his bond with Colette, and it showed in the way he acted so loosely around them. [color=ffdead]“So,”[/color] Jocasta continued after a bit, [color=ffdead]“Whatcha gonna do with all that cheddar if we win it?”[/color] She was loath to just assume, but it was hard to not at least let herself imagine. She’d never wanted for money since being taken in by the Volti, but it wasn’t her own and there was no escaping that. She remained an investment that needed to be justified. [color=ffdead]“Honestly, I don’t even know.”[/color] Yalen had a way of bringing her perspective, and nonjudgmentally enough that she was willing to let things slip that she otherwise wouldn’t have. [color=fd5e53]“If it was up to me I would have already sent all the money I have back to Miatto. Dad got mad when I tried that though. He won’t entertain the idea of me using my allowances for anyone other than myself. He says I’m too altruistic.”[/color] Yalen’s shoulders slumped a bit. [color=fd5e53]“These days all my magi either end up in a box or at the bank. The last big expense I had was my D.R.A.G.O.N. license, and that didn’t even make a dent in what I made from that auction. I would donate it all to some cause but I think Colette has been writing home about me…”[/color] He wrung his hands together unconsciously. [color=fd5e53]“Once I graduate though he won’t be able to tell me what to do. He’ll love the new roof I have planned for the monastery.”[/color] [color=ffdead]“Y’know…”[/color] Jocasta teased, [color=ffdead]“you can always be altruistic with [i]me.[/i]”[/color] She batted her eyelashes in a purposely exaggerated fashion, but her expression soon reverted back to a rather flat smirk. [color=ffdead]“That the place?”[/color] she said after a moment, raising an arm to point as she drifted forward. [color=ffdead]“Because, if it’s not, I‘m still saying we go there.”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“Mhm. We’ve arrived.”[/color] Yalen answered. The outside of the bakery looked different from when he last ate there with Isabella. There were tables set up outside for people to dine-in, and the menu board on display was geared towards a more savory taste for the dinner crowd. The cute Parrench girl manning the front booth was still there, her eyes clouded by exhaustion in spite of her huge smile, and her brother was struggling to keep the massive line in order. Even with the unprecedented amount of customers he appeared to be buttering up the female guests with his usual charm. [color=fd5e53]“Looks like we’ll be here a while…”[/color] Yalen groaned as he and Jocasta took their spot in line. Though he was the patient sort, his legs were screaming at him to find somewhere to sit down. He had to resort to numbing the pain with magic in order to endure the thought of waiting. [color=fd5e53]“Well since we’ll be stuck here for some time, there is something I’ve been meaning to bring up with you. Can you, uh, make things a bit quieter?”[/color] Yalen whispered, referring to Jocasta’s ability to muffle sounds. [color=ffdead]“Come closer for a sec?”[/color] Jocasta prodded, motioning for him to lean in. Yalen brought his face closer to Jocasta’s ear and, immediately, she grabbed him with gentle but irresistible force. The world wavered and then they were in Torragon again, on the outskirts of a town by dusk. [color=ffdead]“Don’t worry. We won’t lose our spot in line. They won’t even know we’re gone, but we can speak freely here.”[/color] She tilted her head to one side and her eyes became concerned. [color=ffdead]“You’re tired, Yalen. I can sense that kind of thing in the body just as well as you can.”[/color] She gestured toward a barrel and began rolling up to it. [color=ffdead]“Take a seat.”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“Please warn me before you do that.”[/color] Yalen complained, suddenly struck by mild vertigo. [color=fd5e53]“Thank you though.”[/color] The tired priest sank onto the “chair” and braced his arms on his lap. [color=fd5e53]“I have been working on my fitness as of late, but the melon derby still took a lot out of me.”[/color] He hammered his fists against his thighs to try and work out some of the soreness. After letting himself rest for a minute Yalen picked the conversation back up. [color=fd5e53]“Back to what we were talking about. I don’t mean to be so secretive, but what I have to tell you is something best left unheard by others.”[/color] He paused in hesitation, not knowing how his friend would react to the news he had to share. [color=fd5e53]“I met a couple of the delegates from Varennes today. They said they are looking for some people. You were not named directly, but based on their description I know for a fact that you are a target. I think they know about the Afortunado. They may seek to bring you to trial, or worse.”[/color] There was a long moment where Jocasta went still. Then, Yalen felt the soreness dissipating from his body. [color=ffdead]“You’re a Chemical mage and a binder. Why don’t you heal yourself?”[/color] Her heart went on a little bit faster, and she didn’t bother to hide it. Yalen was concerned. He had a right to see that his words were important. [color=fd5e53]“Because I don’t want myself to completely forget what pain feels like. How about you? What are you feeling right now?”[/color] Yalen’s voice was, on this rare occasion, completely serious. He couldn’t read her mind, but he suspected he was touching on a topic she didn’t want to engage with right now. He wasn’t going to let her run away from this. [color=ffdead]“I’ve had enough of pain,”[/color] Jocasta said, glancing at something off to the side, [color=ffdead]“but I know I’ve earned some. I killed. I’m a killer. That’s why they’ll say they want me.”[/color] She shook her head slowly, twisting back to meet his eyes. [color=ffdead]“What they really want, though, is to get rid of a threat or bring it onto their side.”[/color] She breathed slowly, steadily, and a little too deeply. [color=ffdead]“It’s been…”[/color] She trailed off for a moment. [color=ffdead]“refreshing,”[/color] she concluded. [color=ffdead]“Healing, a blessing, [i]fun[/i] to pretend to be normal for the past few weeks, just like all of you who I’m -”[/color] She hesitated for the briefest of moments. [color=ffdead]“I know so well, but the truth is that my existence is dangerous to them - dangerous to [i]everyone.[/i] They fear what they cannot control.”[/color] Her voice hardened. [color=ffdead]“And I will [i]never[/i] let anyone control me again.”[/color] Yalen was silent. He wanted to say something positive, to make a statement that would reassure her somehow. This time though, he was out of his depth. He was only sixteen years old; he had met many people, yet the priest in training had never had to counsel a murderer before. Applying that kind of label to Jocasta made him feel sick inside, but it wasn’t something she could hide from forever. Her nature was at odds with her past deeds, and there was nobody left alive to forgive her for what she had done. As well meaning as he was, it was impossible for someone as sheltered as Yalen to empathize with her suffering. All he could do was listen, though maybe that was what she needed the most right now. [color=fd5e53]“I only wanted to warn you of the danger Jocasta. Though I may be a student of the church, I do not feel it is my duty to make you turn yourself in. Facing your past, finding some kind of atonement… A friend I may be, but I can’t bear that burden for you. Still, I can pick you up when you fall.”[/color] Yalen took a deep breath to recuperate. His hand found Jocasta’s shoulder as he tried to offer a measure of reassurance. Despite being the strongest biro in Ersand’Enise, it felt like she would fall apart if he shook her ever so slightly. [color=fd5e53] “You have allies here, so there’s no reason to think that this is all over yet. Instead of acting like you’re going to disappear tomorrow, maybe you should figure out how to lay low so the Holy See doesn’t catch your tail.”[/color] She rose from her seat and floated over beside him. Normally, Jocasta was not one to enjoy physical contact, much less initiate it. She squeezed onto the barrel and wrapped her arms around him tightly from the side. [color=ffdead]“Don’t worry, Yalen. I’m not going anywhere.”[/color] She breathed in and out. [color=ffdead]“[i]Eshi,[/i] I thought we were just going to get some quick food, maybe hang out a bit without all the lil’ short range people to bug us.”[/color] She smiled weakly. [color=ffdead]“But I‘m not gonna run either, and I’m not gonna let other people fight my battles for me. You’d get hurt and I’d have done even more harm than good then.”[/color] She rested her head on his shoulder. [color=ffdead]“Help me by being you: your good, honest, generous self.”[/color] The night air in the desert was cool, and it was one of those rare nights that wasn't cloudless. Two streams of breath came out in little white clouds, joining and mingling. [color=ffdead]“I don’t need your help to be strong, I need it to be [i]good,[/i] and so do a lot of other people, I think.”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“I know you’ll get there, with or without me. You are never alone as long as the Pentad watches over us all.”[/color] Yalen patted her head like a child, suddenly forgetting how outclassed he was by the person next to him. [color=fd5e53]“Let’s go back already. Tonight is my treat. I can show you some of that generosity as you requested.”[/color] Jocasta blushed, batting his hand away in embarrassment. [color=ffdead]“If you were anyone else, you’d lose a -”[/color] She stopped and made a raspberry. [color=ffdead]“Who am I kidding?”[/color] With one last squeeze, she released him. [color=ffdead]“I am perfectly onboard with your chivalry,”[/color] she chirped, floating back to her chair. There was a surge of magic and, momentarily, they found themselves back in line outside the bakery. Jocasta reached out for Yalen’s hand. He didn’t hesitate to take it, squeezing with a strength that he hadn’t possessed when they first met. Yalen noticed one of the girls in front of him looking over her shoulder with a knowing eye, and his ears immediately reddened. Still, he did not let go. “Welcome to Oliviere’s once again sir priest!” A familiar voice rang out from several feet away. The two tethered craned their heads to get a look at the caller, and spotted the teen who’d tried to hit on Isabella the last time Yalen came here. [color=fd5e53]“Ah, you are -”[/color] The monk was tongue tied by the realization that he never got the stranger’s name. “Carlo Oliviere, at your service!” The Parrenchman let out a hearty chuckle. He looked down at Jocasta and his eyes widened. “You scoundrel! Are you really two-timing your girlfriend with this beauty?” [color=ffdead]“I believe you are mistaken, sir,”[/color] said Jocasta not-quite frostily. [color=ffdead]“Yalen is categorically not the sort to have a girlfriend and not tell me.”[/color] She smirked challengingly in the monk’s direction. [color=ffdead]“Mhm?”[/color] Yalen’s attempt to clear the air by loudly coughing was too obvious to be called smooth. [color=fd5e53]“Mr. Oliviere, uh, I just wanted to let you know that my friend was very happy with the free samples you offered her during our last visit.”[/color] Yalen forced out in an attempt to change the subject. Thankfully, Carlo was every bit the womanizer he appeared to be and was quickly distracted by the mention of the pigtailed girl. “Splendid! You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. I do hope she’ll visit again.” Carlo sighed wistfully. “Ah, that reminds me. I would like you to have this miss. Please accept the generosity of my family.” The baker’s son placed a wood block in Jocasta’s lap unprompted. “Today your possession of this gets you a free slice of chocolate cake! Enjoy the Trials!” Jocasta blinked. [color=ffdead]“Uh… um, th-thank you,”[/color] she stammered, shades of the girl from a few weeks ago peeking through. [color=ffdead]“Thank you v-very much.”[/color] She twisted and smiled sweetly up at Yalen. [color=ffdead]“Looks like it’s chocolate cake for you today. We can split it, hmm?”[/color] [color=fd5e53]“It scares me how easily you can do that. Maybe you should join the Fingersteeplers with me.”[/color] Yalen murmured. [color=ffdead]“Hehe,”[/color] the blonde girl giggled. Her voice sank conspiratorially. [color=ffdead]“How do you know I’m not already there?”[/color] She winked.