A Pair of Healing Hands (Serrif)

by **Blythe** on February 15th, 2012, 11:04 pm

"I know," Blythe whispered, as she took his hand. Encasing it delicately within her own. Her smooth skin caressing the hardened edges. The cuts, the calluses, the imperfections of his form. The occasional strand of dark hair. Curling to his bunched knuckles. "Everyone wishes they were someone, or something else every once in awhile." The Konti paused, as she squeezed Serrif's hand gently. "As crazy as they make everyone at times, sometimes, I wonder what it would be like to be one of my sisters, or even my mother. Each has had so many children. Each has standing within our society. I have none. Perhaps, they are not as learned in their trades as their baby sister, for they simply don't have as much time, with so many people to look after and feed, but, at the end of the day, they are always going to be more. Simply because they bore more, and Fawn... she never made it through a year. She only made it here for an instant, before we forced her into the ground. Back into the arms of those who made us."

Blythe fell silent for a time, as she studied Serrif's eyes. "Sometimes Ser, one wonders if anyone can ever be truly happy. For they always seem to want more. The things they feel they need, but don't yet have. The things they simply cannot have. Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever be happy, living without any of my own girls around me. Sometimes, it seems as though you wonder to. If I can be happy, if you can be, just as I do." Blythe sighed, as she nibbled nervously on her bottom lip, and gave Serrif's hands another small squeeze. "Sometimes, it seems like you pursue things you know aren't a possibly, because you wish to perpetuate the pain. You don't feel quite right, unless your heart is overcome by it. Unless, you feel as though you are about to be torn to shreds."

Blythe smiled uneasily. Her eyes sparkling as she pulled her hands away, after turning Serrif's palm up to the sky. Her fingertips drew across the length of his own as she moved them into her lap, onto the bread, which she gently placed on his palm. "I know," Blythe whispered, as she got to her feet, and peered down at him. "I always knew," she finished, as she curled his fingers around the loaf. "Break this tonight. Have some wine if you wish. Picture what it is you want Ser, and why you always give into the things that can never be." The Konti forced her smile to widen as she bent down, leaning into him, and delicately, planted a kiss on his forehead. She could feel her lips sinking into his skin a moment, before she pulled away.

"Take care of yourself, ok Ser?" Blythe asked. "You know where to find us, if you need anything," she added, as she turned away from him, her head hung slightly, as she trod across the pebble path. Her feet sinking as they crunched beneath her sandals. Sinking, as she slipped away, past the plants which seemed to droop with her sorrow.

by **Serrif Von Chatlyn** on February 29th, 2012, 4:35 pm

She spoke the truth, he didn’t know what would really make him happy. But something about her touch was nice. Maybe it was just different and pleasing to h ave someone to have a soft delicate hand with him. He couldn’t remember intimacy with anyone. Blythe was the closest he had come to anything with anyone…and yet she kept walking away. Like she wouldn’t let herself give in to anything. Like she didn’t want to be happy with him…like she didn’t want him. He couldn’t blame her; he didn’t have much to offer. His life like he said was short and the only thing he had to offer was his love and passion. And that didn’t seem like enough for Blythe. Was anything really enough? As her hands retreated this only added to the feeling that he was worthless to her. He wanted her to say anything but what she just did. Anything that could give him hope; but instead she trashed it. Leaving him to pick up the pieces…again.

He sighed as she placed the bread in his hand and walked away. She was contradicting herself to him. Her body language said it all. Was she trying to tell him they would never be? That his hopes dreams and aspirations were chaff in the wind, water under the bridge? Why did she tease him with a kiss on his forehead before she left? She always did this; leading him on. He wanted her, the possibility of forever with her; or maybe just one night. But at the same time he was cautious. She wouldn’t get far before his mind called out, he didn’t even know he was talking.

“Why do you do this?” The question as simple but at first he didn’t realize he had done it. But instead of giving into the horror that his subconscious was calling Blythe out he just stood and walked to her.

“Why? You must know the pain you cause. You must know that I am not good at this. I may want something impossible but is it? What is a few days or weeks of true happiness worth?” The question posed he put a gentle caring hand on her chin and looked DIRECTLY into her lavender eyes. Feeling for emotion anything it was almost a desperate cry to her. Please….do you love me? his mind asked so strong that he had to fight for his mouth not to speak them.

“I…” No! He couldn’t tell her he loved her…she would run. But if he didn’t tell her she would have no reason to stay. But wasn’t he enough of a reason to stay? Wasn’t the possibility of his love enough for her? Could it be enough? The more he thought the more foolish he began to look. He sighed a heavy sigh and just surrendered.

“it’s fine….I’m sure you have better places to be right?” His hand fell away from her and his heart dropped. This date was a failure indeed; he had gained nothing except for a now heavy feeling of general uselessness. Which was exactly what he needed…

“Take care.” He was walking away now from her. Back turned but she would be able to tell that his heart was heavy, but was there anything she could do about it. He had done all this for her. And instead she showed up and told him that it just wasn’t meant to be. Somehow that wasn’t how he had seen the night going in his mind. He always seemed to paint a better picture than reality in his mind. A lesson learned the hard way now.

by **Blythe** on March 1st, 2012, 3:59 am

At the sound of his voice, lost to the beauty of the dripping petals that surrounded them, the curled leaves, Blythe turned to him. Her eyes fell on Serrif's own, clung to the pleading in his words, the sheer desperation that hung in the air. Making it so thick, that it would need to be cut by a knife. Her lips parted, preparing to speak, to offer him some sort of acknowledgment. But there was no time, everything seemed to speed up as he came for her, as his fingers found her chin. As he looked into her eyes, she into his own, everything seemed to slow down again. His words hit her like a smack in the face, as she studied the pain held there.

Moisture welled up in Blythe's eyes. Making everything glassy. She could barely see him now, as his skin danced. Reflected off the water. "I..."

"I don't know," Blythe stammered, her bottom lip trembling as she blinked, sending a single tear away from each of her eyes. Orbs of clear moisture that trickled down her skin. Circling her pale cheeks, until they fell from her chin, onto the pebble path. "But, happiness, it has no price. Not if it's true," she whispered, as she put her hand on his own, and gently, eased it away from herself. She peered down at the ground, at her toes wiggling uneasily in her sandals, before looking back up at him, as he started to trail away. "That wasn't it, was it?" Blythe whispered. "What you wanted to say. Perhaps... one day, you'll be able to tell me," she called after him, as she watched his back. His body slouched. His muscles pulsing lightly as they moved him along. As his feet crunched against the pebbles.

As she watched him trail off, Blythe felt a profound, inexplicable sorrow, which seemed to drag her heart down. Ripping the strings as it tugged the organ towards her knees. Her chest felt tight, and her eyes were filled with fresh pools. Pools that seemed to trail down her cheeks, glistening in the failing light as Serrif's form faded away. "I guess I really do love you Ser," Blythe whispered, even though he was too far away to hear her.

It seemed the only possible explanation.

by **Paragon** on March 5th, 2012, 10:22 pm

Adventurer's Loot

Blythe's Loot :

Serrif's Loot :

I really enjoyed reading this. I'm one of the players secretly shipping for this couple! I look forward to seeing more from you two - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.