[22th of Fall] Embers still burn

[Mathieu]

Time stamp: 22th of Fall - right after Let it Burn Location: Underground gardens Kelvics. By the gods, Kelvics. He knew not if he loved them or hated them - in fact, it didn't really matter. By the time Mathieu reached the safety and the simple yet real confort of the tiny cave, he could clearly make out the source of his anger. It wasn't so much about Kelvics. It wasn't so much about Aria. It even wasn't about bourgeoisie or aristocracy, petty as they were. As with most problems, that ire's root was simply himself. The Fire Weaver had come to realize while striding down to put himself away from the Courtyard that he was just angry at himself - and that maddened him even more. Time had done little to smother his emotions and he knew not as he crawled into the opening of the cave whether he was angrier or calmer than he was right after his altercation with Sai. Resting his back on the far side of the cave, he eyed Aria (who supposedly followed him) with intensity. You... What you... Don't... he stammered furiously, tring to berate her. Sadly, being angry did not improve his communication skills one bit, and so much emotions were pit into the same pool that he could hardly find the right words to choose. Truth be told, he himself didn't even know what he wanted to say.

[Aria]

Aria followed Mathieu down to the small cave that she called home most of the time and slipped into the entrance after him. She stood there for a while while he stammered incoherently, all the while fixing her with his intense stare. "Are you done yet?" She asked sarcastically as his stammering slowed. She had calmed alot since the altercation with Sai. Aria still thought Sai was a cocky petching piece of dung, but it was under the bridge now. "Are you actually going to berate me, or are you going to mumble incoherently all night?

[Mathieu]

Mathieu sure did feel like an utter fool after Aria's witty remark. He held off his arms in the air as a gesture of surrender and blew a heavy sigh, not that it helped him much in tempering his emotions. Sitting down cross-legged and back to the wall, he rested his head upon his palm for a moment before looking once again at Aria. Why did he intervene in that conflict? Idiotic question, he knew the answer already. ... I... I just don't know what to say, he mouthed, anger still lingering in his tone. You're been played like a pawn on a chessboard, do you even realize that? Mathieu sighed once more, looking sideway, his head tilted on one side with his hand scratching his hair in a state of indecision. How could he begin to put in words what was going through his mind? Memories he wished were discarded once again peeked out of the closet. And as long as Aria was here, it wouldn't get any better.

[Aria]

Aria bristled at Mathieu's comment. "That comes as a surprise to you?" Aria asked incredulously. "You may be new in Wind Reach, but surely you've noticed it by now. We're all played like pawns in a novice's game of chess by the upper castes, it was happening long before you got here." Aria thought back to the day of her family's murder, revenge taken out by some upper caste creeps. She shivered at the memory. Her eyes narrowed as she continued "The petching dung holes are above the law" She said bitterly, "And there's nothing on Mizahar that can change that." Aria's eyes shone with mixed emotion as she spoke, if one looked closely they would find rage, bitterness, even sorrow, though the rest of her face betrayed nothing

[Mathieu]

Aria's answer had the same effect than a painful slap on Mathieu's face. He sat there, almost dazed, trying to figure out what that meant. So she knew? She knew all this and yet she deliberately threw herself into it? Or was it that she couldn't take the heat anymore? No, the real question was turning into: How did she survive until now with such behavior? She obviously know she was being played with, and her primary reaction was to spring headlong into the trap? By the gods, and he thought animals had survival instincts. ... Than again, Aria wasn't the first one. Kelvics. Kelvics! Darn Kelvics! Why are they so hard to understand? He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. First things first. I absolutely forbid you to attack anyone if not in a situation of life and death. You would end up framed and probably forgotten in some cold and empty cell. That I do not wish. Am I clear? he said with a tone that left no room for debate. Mathieu hated giving orders - simply because he never was in that position. Leading a lonely life didn't let any space for such fancy decisions. But he had to. He had to change if they were to survive.