[Knirin Gardens]The wind whispers in the trees[Naeya]

[Rykanis Dakshata]

Rykanis kept his eyes on Naeya. He seemed totally focused on her, trying to settle in his mind what to do... Many options were running through his head... Several that did not end well for her... He thought of the nearby waterfall... The lake... Sometimes people were over adventurous, and thought they could swim... It was a shame when such people died for there foolishness... Accidents did happen... And it might not be to hard to arrange such an accident. At that thought going through his mind, his main side pressed back, and a small twitch ran through Rykanis, almost imperceptible. But his other side held firm, still in control. But clearly getting message, that his main side would not cooperate on such a plan. Which was in this Konti's favor. Rykanis stood still, waiting, as the woman fidgeted, moving a bit, and cleared her throat, before speaking. it seemed she had something to say. Was she going to confess her source? He certainly could not have predicted the one she ended up giving. That was her defense? Magic? That she had seen it? Or was it magic, or just an innate ability of the konti? It was a bit hard for him to say, it was all a bit muddled and unclear. But she was saying then, that she had not been told, but had a vision, and just so happened to stumble upon this fact... This certainly was an unpleasant development. Having one of his secrets unearthed like this, nearly made him feel sick to his stomach... So it was clear why he was so keen to regain this secret... But if she had not been told... Had just seen... Perhaps he could still fix this... "My privacy? My privacy? Would you like to have horrible reminders of the worst bits of your past brought up and unearthed, and held before you? Said so nonchalantly, as if it was common knowledge. Something you had spent years trying to forget, to push away, and lose every trace of, to bury and keep secret. To have brought up the moment you felt at your highest, which ended turning sour and leaving you lower than you began..." Rykanis looked at the woman for a moment more, and then turned away, not facing her. Keeping from looking her in the eyes. "I would say that would be an unpleasant experience. Perhaps you did see this. But tell me, what did you see?" Rykanis turned back to the woman, his face still cold and impassive. "Did you see the happy moments as I learned I would be a father? Did you see me caring for her all through the pregnancy? Did you see, just as it seemed things were at there best, when they all went wrong. Did you see the chime for which I was a father? And the chime later, when I was not?" After saying this, Rykanis turned back away from the woman, and released his hold, letting his main side take back over... As he did, his shoulders shook, racked with a silent sob... For the words of his other side, had truly upset him. Turning back to the woman, with tears in his eyes, he spoke in a broken voice, pain on his face. "So perhaps you see know, why some memories, are better left buried, and forgotten, as if they did not happen."

[Naeya]

Naeya searched Rykanis’ face and tried to determine his reaction to her words. Unfortunately, his expression was as blank and cold as before. Petch. She had reluctantly decided to take her chances and run, when he burst into a surprising tirade. What does he mean by “the worst bits” of his past? He claimed to be angry about his privacy being invaded, but he really seemed to be most upset about the piece of information she had discovered. Naeya returned to her earlier thoughts, questioning why a child was something to become infuriated over. What had happened that was terrible enough to make him want to forget his child, to bury it, to keep it secret? She had only seen good in her vision. She had seen the joy of a child to come, the glow of their mutual happiness… Her face went white as Rykanis continued and she came to realize what she had done. “Did you see the chime for which I was a father? And the chime later when I was not?" Naeya could feel her hands begin to tremble, and she let out a sharp gasp. His words ran through her mind, over and over and over. A feeling of horrified understanding flooded her thoughts. “Rykanis…” she whispered as he turned away, his body wracked with sadness. All thoughts of leaving had abruptly left when she realized the child, the happiness, she had seen was dead. When he turned back, his impassive expression had left and in its place was a broken man. “I… I don’t know what to say.” Her voice was quiet and sad, and her own tears threatened to spill as she watched Rykanis’ breakdown. How does one console a stranger about so terrible a memory? “I’m so, so sorry that I mentioned anything.” She hesitantly reached a hand out towards him, but then quickly pulled it back as the memory of his earlier hostility warned her against it. “How did… how did it happen? Or… No, I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I can go.” She turned her sorrowful face from his, and took a slow step away. Inside, she was beating herself up about her insatiable curiousity. Why was it that, even now, she was asking questions of him and trying to learn more about his memory? Why couldn’t she just leave it alone? I’ve done enough damage.

[Rykanis Dakshata]

Rykanis other side was a odd one, to say the least. He was also very smart and logical. He knew when enough had been divulged, that trying to keep the secret was a moot point. he also knew that sometimes the more important thing, was to keep other people from learning of the secret. One option, was to kill the person that knew it... But instead, he used his skills in manipulating people, both on his main side, and Naeya, to try and make sure she never told another soul of the secret she had learned. He was no expert, so there was no telling if it would work, but he believed he had done decently well. Of course, this was not reflected by his outer self, who was quite upset over the whole thing, and not in on the manipulation his other side had done. He was truly upset. But his other side felt it was an acceptable cost, for him to be affected as such, and to be forced to grieve a bit finally about it. As she reached out a hand, and pulled it back, another sob was only just kept in, disguised as a cough. Even in this state, he was trying to appear manly and without weakness. A bit comical really, from another perspective. As she turned and began to step away, Rykanis reached out, sweeping his arms around her, and trying to pull her into a tight hug. Though from his previous actions, she might read this wrongly, and believe it to be a attack or something else. Regardless of if he managed to pull her into his hug, he would let out another sob, and speak to her, his voice thick. "I think you see why I did not want others to know of that instance... Why I kept it hidden, and would prefer if no one else were to know of it... If you were to not tell... Of it..."

[Naeya]

She should have known better than to turn her back on such a volatile man. The moment she stepped away from Rykanis, Naeya felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulders and lower neck and attempt to pull her back. Panic flooded her mind. A scream was stifled in her throat. The young Konti immediately began to struggle against the Akalak’s grasp. She reached her hands up to his forearm and tried to pull it away, but she was too small and too weak to make a difference. He must have been at least two, three times her weight, and had the additional advantage of getting the first hold. Naeya found herself being dragged backwards against Rykanis’ chest, unable to escape his grasp. Nonetheless, she continued to claw desperately at his arm until a deep sob emanated from his throat. The grappling stopped, but her body still shook in fear. How could she have let herself feel empathy for him? How could she have risked hearing him out? Yes, she was still sorry she had dug up the skeleton of his past, but the man was unhinged. Rykanis began to speak, his arms still wrapped around her in a perverse bear hug. Is he… threatening me? It certainly sounded like a threat. He had restricted her movement and then asked, nay, demanded that she not tell anyone about her vision and his past. Yes, it was most definitely a threat, but what else could she do except agree? Trapped. “I won’t tell anyone, I swear,” Naeya choked out weakly. “I can keep your secret. Just, please, just let me go. I want to go home…” At this, she pushed against his arms once more while simultaneously slamming her right foot down on his in a last attempt to break free of his grip. If he were to release her, she would run as fast as her legs would carry her to the nearest street corner and try to bury herself in the morning crowd. The day was growing later, and Rivarians were sure to be beginning their daily hustle soon. Naeya never wanted to see this man again, but in the city of Riverfall there were no guarantees.

[Rykanis Dakshata]

Rykanis did not notice at first Naeya's reaction to his attempt at a hug, or her fighting. So distraught was he, and caught up in sadness, an emotion he usually tried to keep at bay, and keep to happier thoughts. Of course, he had not meant to become so emotional, but with the prodding and the manipulation of his other side, teamed with the upheaval of what Naeya had brought up, it was like a floodgate had been opened, all of the tears and upset that he had been denying to himself up until this point. The fear and pain, of that moment. Perhaps it had not gone exactly as he had planned it, but his other sides manipulation had caused more or less the exact reaction from Rykanis he had wanted, and caused the woman to act as he wanted, though not exactly as he had planned. or with the added bit of the woman thinking him unstable, and freaking out thinking he was going to hurt her. That had been unintended. But he was no expert at manipulation, so such unexpected side affects, were to be expected. Rykanis stood dumbfounded, at the woman's harsh attack and reaction, as she ran away. He did not understand what had happened, or why the woman was mad at him, for showing some emotion, that she had unleashed. He took a step after her, but stopped at the urging of his other side, who began the process of calming him down. Rykanis had no idea of what his other side had just done to him, that he had done anything at all, or that he had done such things before... That he was often doing things or saying things to control him, and to get him to act as his other side wanted him to... All without him ever realizing... Inwardly, his other side was bristling with a sense of contentment, similar to when he had stored away another secret, at his success once again, at controlling him, and a situation.

[Gossamer]

. Character: Rykanis Experience: Observation +4, Flirting +3, Socialization +5, Intimidation +2 Lore: Sunrises & Sunsets: Some of the most beautiful spectacles in life. Naeya: Has tendencies to not pay attention while shes walking. Naeya: Can speak Tukant. Naeya: Is a jewelcrafter. I am evasive with questions. Naeya: Has visions of people’s past. Naeya: Has seen his very real pain. Character: Naeya Experience: Observation +4, Flirting+4, Socialization +5 Lore: Divination: It is somewhat hard to control. Rykanis: Likes to hang out in parks at sunrise scaring unsuspecting Konti by talking to shadows. Rykanis: A great person to catch your falls. Rykanis: Has striking blue eyes, I am clumbsy. I am paranoid. Rykanis: Does something mysterious for The Council, Rykanis: Does not answer questions straightforwardly, Rykanis: Had a child, or a woman who was pregnant with his child. Maybe I shouldn’t tell everyone what I know all the time. Additional Note: Interesting thread. I do hate threads that end when one or the other of the group runs away. Rykanis, I would have loved for you to sit that Konti down and have a firm stern talk with her about all the pain the Akalak feel towards everything that was discussed in this thread and explain to her how dredging up such things isn't good for her health when quite a few of them have so little control - especially those tattooed. Naeya, I hope your PC did, however, walk away from this thread with a valuable lesson on when and if she should keep her knowledge to herself. I really think this could have been an interesting 'getting to know' folks thread. I'm still looking for a lady that will thread with Rykanis that won't take his usual intimidation evasive shit for face value. You might be the one to do it if you can get your PC a little less naive! .