Spirit song: the elven wanderer finally has a home.

[sweetheart97]

"I can...oh, ok, that's easier." She pulled her hand back before it got swatted. She turned to face him and smiled, hands back towards the middle of the bench.

"I'm glad I could make you feel less alone. Someone like you deserves to not feel alone." She grinned. "An extrovert, I mean."

 

[The_gladiator]

he laughed at the extrovert comment, "Afraid I would think you meant us elves?" he teased.

"Connection is good for elves too, though I venture to say that not all elves are social creatures, you hear stories of the solitary scholars as well. Elves have a patience and wisdom that I have always aspired to, perhaps that is the choice behind the mask I wear," he took both of her hands this time one in each of his as they faced one another his forearms resting on his knees.

 

[sweetheart97]

She made a face at his teasing. "Maybe," she answered, before she took a chance to stick her tongue out at him extremely quickly.

She listened, thinking about it until he took her hands, both of them this time. "Their patience and wisdom are admirable traits. For one to routinely interact with humans, they'd probably need quite a lot of patience." She squeezed his hands, letting him know he was welcome to take hers.

 

[The_gladiator]

he smiled at her. Her squeezing telling him what he hoped that she did not mind the gentle contact.

"Yes I found them to be a beautiful race, and one of my favorites to roleplay."

 

[sweetheart97]

"I almost always play human. It's a bit silly. I could be anything else." She laughed at herself, and smiled at him.

"A million ideas and I go with basic."

 

[The_gladiator]

he stroked his fingertips over her palms exploring her hands. "Sometimes humans are just fine to play, lots of variation in humans. Though I hadn't written run of the mill humans in a long time until recently and I have to real life threads right now that are quite enjoyable."

 

[sweetheart97]

She watched him stroke her hands, keeping still. "I suppose a lot of the humans I end up playing are special in some way." She watched him stroke one palm, then looked out at the water.

 

[The_gladiator]

“Special in what way?” He asks his own eyes retuerning to the water.

“It’s so beautiful,” he murmurs.

 

[The_gladiator]

He cradled the guitar again. It helped him feel less awkward and more at home. "I always whish I could play as well in the real world as I can here." he murmured.

He sang softly, his eyes focused on the lapping pool below them, the waterfall leading into it.

 

[AngelicaS1780]

She knew the elf would not be surprised to see her there on the large flat rock near the base of the waterfall. It was one of her favorite places in the beautiful home that Glad had created here for himself. She was stretched out on her stomach, chin propped on her arms, soaking up the sun, the sound of the flowing water like music to her. She was always happiest near the water. She had come to check on her dear friend, knowing how he was grieving. She knew he would sense her presence when he was ready. Until then, she would delight in the sun and water.

 

[The_gladiator]

as he looked down by the pool, he saw her on the rock where he often sat. A slight smile tilted the corners of his mouth.

He lay a hand on the woman beside him. "If you will excuse me, there is someone I should say hello to. Let her know I am alright."

With that the elf rose from the swing and began the descent to the water below. the guitar slung over a shoulder.

He steps until he is standing beside her, his shadow covering her for a moment blocking her from the son. He stares down at her for a long time before he sits down near her, again cradling the instrument. "I wondered when you might make an appearance," he said softly. "My pain often calls to you. you are a good friend in that way. How have you been?" he asks softly.

 

[AngelicaS1780]

She had barely heard his soft footfalls, but felt the shade his shadow cast as he stood over her. She knew that, if she looked back over her shoulder, she would see the dark hair and deep green eyes of her friend, so dear to her. She waited until the elf had settled near her on the warm rock before turning her own green eyes to his. She stretched out languidly on her side, facing him, propping her head up with a palm under her cheek. She laid her hand on his arm as she looked up at him with a concerned smile.

"I have been well, my friend, considering all that is going on out there. I am more concerned about how you are. I know that the last year has been one of loss for you. I saw you here and wanted you to know that your voice had been heard...and to tell you that you are a treasured presence in my life. I have felt the need to do this more often as of late. Remembering life lessons, I suppose."

 

[sweetheart97]

“Special in what way?” He asks his own eyes retuerning to the water.

“It’s so beautiful,” he murmurs.

"Sorry I didn't get a chance to answer. Usually they have encounters with supernatural creatures, or they have powers which make them a target. If they have powers they normally have some sort of counterbalance.

She looked at the water. "Just don't throw me in, please."

 

[AngelicaS1780]

Angelica looked back, shading her eyes from the sun with a hand, and replied to the newcomer's request to remain on dry land with a light-hearted laugh. "No need to worry. The water's not too deep here, nor is the current especially fast. I'm a strong swimmer and a former lifeguard so, in the unlikely event that you find yourself in the drink, I'll pull you out."

She extended her hand to the woman who had no interest in playing the role of a river sprite and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Angelica. Thank you for reaching out to my friend. The world needs more people who are not afraid to express concern and kindness to others. What name do you go by here?"

 

[sweetheart97]

Kate looked at the woman and took a small step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Kate looked out at the water dubiously.

"It's less the water and more that there's stuff on the bottom, like the spiky bits, and fish with too many needle teeth." She thought for a moment. "And sharks."

"Nice to meet you, Angelica. I go by Kate here. You're welcome, but it's what anyone should have done, wjen seeing someone in so much pain."

 

[AngelicaS1780]

"Pleased to meet you, Kate. I am pretty confident there are no sharks in the river. You would have to check with Glad though, as this is all his creation. If he imagined river sharks, then I stand corrected. With any foresight on his part, there will be no needle-toothed fish or spiky bits sticking out of the river bed."

She paused a moment, her smile fading, and added, "As for what people should do, well, that is often very different from what they actually do."

 

[The_gladiator]

She had barely heard his soft footfalls, but felt the shade his shadow cast as he stood over her. She knew that, if she looked back over her shoulder, she would see the dark hair and deep green eyes of her friend, so dear to her. She waited until the elf had settled near her on the warm rock before turning her own green eyes to his. She stretched out languidly on her side, facing him, propping her head up with a palm under her cheek. She laid her hand on his arm as she looked up at him with a concerned smile.

"I have been well, my friend, considering all that is going on out there. I am more concerned about how you are. I know that the last year has been one of loss for you. I saw you here and wanted you to know that your voice had been heard...and to tell you that you are a treasured presence in my life. I have felt the need to do this more often as of late. Remembering life lessons, I suppose."

he nodded his thanks to her. "Thank you. I'm really struggling. I thought I was holding it together, and then the panic attacks came last night and today. and I seem to be saying the wrong things to people." he shrugs. "I fear I'm not taking good enough care of my health."

 

[The_gladiator]

"Sorry I didn't get a chance to answer. Usually they have encounters with supernatural creatures, or they have powers which make them a target. If they have powers they normally have some sort of counterbalance.

She looked at the water. "Just don't throw me in, please."

I play a lot of the supernatural opposite the humans, be it vampire, werewolf, half elf, etc. And yes many things should have balance.

 

[The_gladiator]

"Pleased to meet you, Kate. I am pretty confident there are no sharks in the river. You would have to check with Glad though, as this is all his creation. If he imagined river sharks, then I stand corrected. With any foresight on his part, there will be no needle-toothed fish or spiky bits sticking out of the river bed."

She paused a moment, her smile fading, and added, "As for what people should do, well, that is often very different from what they actually do."

"No sharks in the river, and nothing nasty on the bottom of it either, especially in the pool. Trust me, I hate that too. In the real world rivers aren't my thing but here in my fictional home, it's pretty beautiful. Though I won't be pushing the lady Kate into the water either though, if she were to go swimming I certainly would want it to be her choice."

a smile for Angelica, "I did not know you were a lifeguard."

 

[The_gladiator]

Kate looked at the woman and took a small step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Kate looked out at the water dubiously.

"It's less the water and more that there's stuff on the bottom, like the spiky bits, and fish with too many needle teeth." She thought for a moment. "And sharks."

"Nice to meet you, Angelica. I go by Kate here. You're welcome, but it's what anyone should have done, wjen seeing someone in so much pain."

he smiles at Kate. "Thank you, even if you feel it was what anyone should have done, you were one of the ones to do it and I will not forget that."

 

[sweetheart97]

She considered the water. If it was as safe as they said, she wouldn't have to worry about going in. She looked at it, listening as she did. She sighed, and looked at the man with a smile.

"Well, if you both say it's as safe as it is, then I guess I wouldn't mind. Much."

She could swim but she wouldn't be winning any races.

"Maybe a swim here could help you feel a little better, if Angelica wants to join," she said, looking from the water to the man, to the lady and back to the water.

 

[The_gladiator]

The elf seemed to consider Kate’s words. “It might.” He seemed to huddle around the instrument as if it were a lifeline. “I am a strong swimmer myself. My father was a lifeguard and swim instructor. Though I confess I do not do it as often as I used to.”

 

[The_gladiator]

Someone recently told him the pain would come and go in waves that sometimes you wouldn’t realize the cause for the wave, that all you could do is hang on and try not to get swept away. She had given him permission to fall apart when that happened. He wasn’t good at that. He did not have the skill the ability to fall apart, to let it out and then pick up the peaces. Falling apart was weakness in his family and he did not want to be weak. He spent so much time in life trying to be sure he did everything right that he forgot to just live, to love and relax. He had reflected yesterday on few people he truly felt relaxed around. Even now with family with people he should be relaxed around, he wasn’t relax, in fact he was more on edge than when he wasn’t with them. The last few times he’d been here had been better, but with all the stress of everything it wasn’t that way now.

He rubbed his forehead with tired fingers as he took this moment outside of the current scene where they were considering a swim. He needed this small moment to grieve, to try to hold it together because where he was it wouldn’t be accepted should he fall apart.

 

[AngelicaS1780]

Expressing grief and vulnerability is absolutely not a sign of weakness.
It is honest and, yes, it can be risky.
You have fallen apart in the past and put the pieces back together.
You will fall apart again in the future and persevere.
I know that can be hard to believe, but it's true.
You are one of the strongest people I know.

 

[The_gladiator]

"Thank you both for being there for me during this time," he bowed his head and smiled. "I will change to go swimming," he said as he rose to his full height, the guitar having vanished away to wherever it went when it was no longer needed. Perhaps back up to the porch he had left behind to go down to the pool.