Post by dragonbat on Feb 16, 2010 1:33:40 GMT 10
Title: What Comes Around (II)
Rating: G
Length: 446
Competitor: Neal
Round/Fight: (1/C)
Summary: Neal and Kel have some catching up to do.
“I’m not a child anymore.” Kel’s words seemed to hang in the air between them like one of Prosper’s light spells. As the full implication of those five words sank in, Neal saw Kel’s face go blank as she quickly dropped her eyes to her desk and picked up her quill.
“You and Akemi should make your farewells, now,” she said steadily, with no hint of the quaver that her voice had betrayed a moment ago. “It’s been good to see you again.”
Neal stood stock-still before her, barely moving, barely breathing. “Kel. I… I had no idea. You never said a word,” he managed.
She gave him a rueful smile. “Did you ever talk about your feelings to Daine? To Uline? We were a small group, Neal. If I’d brought up feelings that you didn’t reciprocate, what might that have done to our little band?” She shook her head. “This palace may be a labyrinth, but it’s not always easy to stay out of someone’s way. Particularly not when you’re expected to train with them. My saying something back then could have destroyed our friendship. I valued it,” she whispered. “Too much to want to risk that.”
“Sacrifices had to be made.” It came out with the same old drawl, but tinged more with regret than with bitterness.
Kel looked up at him, her face carefully blank. “Exactly.” She sighed and went back to her paperwork.
“And all this time…”
Now she smiled. “Oh, I wasn’t writing poetry to your left bicep,” she retorted. “There’ve been others that I cared for. A few, I even loved.”
“And?”
“My feelings changed. Or they died. Or they married for duty. Or they married for love.” She made a face. “And then there were a few who thought that what hazing and scut-work wouldn’t do, marriage and children would: keep me at home and off of the duty rolls.” She shook her head. “Don’t think I have regrets, Neal. Yuki was right for you. Anyone could see it. And there are worse things in life than being unattached.”
Neal sighed. “I shouldn’t keep my daughter waiting,” he said, “but I’d like to continue our decision later. Will you be eating with the pages and squires?”
“Yes, of course.” Where else would the training master eat?
“I’ll join you later then, if I may.” He hesitated. “We still have a lot to catch up on.” For a moment, he smiled. “Well. This conversation has been quite illuminating. You could almost bar the shutters and still have light to work by.”
Kel’s lips twitched. “Go to Akemi. She needs you.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll see you at supper.”
Rating: G
Length: 446
Competitor: Neal
Round/Fight: (1/C)
Summary: Neal and Kel have some catching up to do.
What Comes Around (II)
“I’m not a child anymore.” Kel’s words seemed to hang in the air between them like one of Prosper’s light spells. As the full implication of those five words sank in, Neal saw Kel’s face go blank as she quickly dropped her eyes to her desk and picked up her quill.
“You and Akemi should make your farewells, now,” she said steadily, with no hint of the quaver that her voice had betrayed a moment ago. “It’s been good to see you again.”
Neal stood stock-still before her, barely moving, barely breathing. “Kel. I… I had no idea. You never said a word,” he managed.
She gave him a rueful smile. “Did you ever talk about your feelings to Daine? To Uline? We were a small group, Neal. If I’d brought up feelings that you didn’t reciprocate, what might that have done to our little band?” She shook her head. “This palace may be a labyrinth, but it’s not always easy to stay out of someone’s way. Particularly not when you’re expected to train with them. My saying something back then could have destroyed our friendship. I valued it,” she whispered. “Too much to want to risk that.”
“Sacrifices had to be made.” It came out with the same old drawl, but tinged more with regret than with bitterness.
Kel looked up at him, her face carefully blank. “Exactly.” She sighed and went back to her paperwork.
“And all this time…”
Now she smiled. “Oh, I wasn’t writing poetry to your left bicep,” she retorted. “There’ve been others that I cared for. A few, I even loved.”
“And?”
“My feelings changed. Or they died. Or they married for duty. Or they married for love.” She made a face. “And then there were a few who thought that what hazing and scut-work wouldn’t do, marriage and children would: keep me at home and off of the duty rolls.” She shook her head. “Don’t think I have regrets, Neal. Yuki was right for you. Anyone could see it. And there are worse things in life than being unattached.”
Neal sighed. “I shouldn’t keep my daughter waiting,” he said, “but I’d like to continue our decision later. Will you be eating with the pages and squires?”
“Yes, of course.” Where else would the training master eat?
“I’ll join you later then, if I may.” He hesitated. “We still have a lot to catch up on.” For a moment, he smiled. “Well. This conversation has been quite illuminating. You could almost bar the shutters and still have light to work by.”
Kel’s lips twitched. “Go to Akemi. She needs you.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll see you at supper.”