Sarissa (ladyofsummer) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-09-08 18:59:00 |
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SoThe dome had thrown some interesting things at them, and Sarissa had taken most of them in stride, but she was glad she hadn’t been hit by this one. It might’ve been okay if she’d been aged down - she had over 600 years to be aged down for - but it would’ve been bad for both her and the people who lived in Madison if she’d been aged up, after the Mantle had gotten its hooks into her and turned her fully into the Summer Lady. There’d be little of Sarissa left, and the previous Summer Ladies hadn’t been anywhere near mentally stable. But that bullet had been dodged, and Sarissa was able to enjoy herself as an observer of all the chaos that was happening around the age changes. It was nice to know Kaleb hadn’t changed either; they were making progress on his development from tin man to someone who could possibly have feelings, and she would’ve hated to stall that momentum. Especially when he was talking about things like “enjoying” a date, and being able to compare enjoyment levels. When she’d first met him, he would've denied he was capable of enjoying anything. And of course, her pride liked the fact that he’d enjoyed his date with her more than his other young lady. She was looking forward to hearing about it. *** Having had a decent morning, making a technology breakthrough where he was able to copy the platform he was working on to another medium, Kaleb had found that there was a spark of enjoyment he could not explain at seeing Sarissa’s note on the network. Everything about the idea that she provided him with enjoyment seemed inappropriate, but at the same time, Kaleb was not about to deny a fact. Such denial did not match with a logical acceptance of things happening for a reason. So he accepted that there was something about her that he needed to interact with. And therefore appearing at a location to discuss an interaction with another female seemed appropriate. Standing outside of the store after using his powers to bring himself there, Kaleb stood and peered into the space. He watched her move in the space. It suited his image of her as someone well tuned to nature as he was not. In fact, he was probably the opposite of anything natural standing there in his formal suit with the buttoned jacket and silk tie and the starched shirt. With the ease of much use, his powers opened the door before him and he entered the shop. Again he paused, looking around and absorbing the visual and sparks that slid over the dullness of his senses. “The space suits you,” Kaleb commented, knowing she had been aware of him since he had appeared outside the store. *** Sarissa had indeed been aware of him as soon as he'd appeared outside the door. Power like his couldn't be missed. She kept working on her flower display, though. Kaleb would come in when he was ready, and she certainly wasn't going to stop and go out to meet him. They had this strange, subtle power struggle going on that Sarissa found herself enjoying. It wasn't so much that she was trying to gain power over him as she was not allowing him any power over her. It was exhilarating, in a way. Simply waiting for him to come in filled her with anticipation she hadn't felt in years. When he finally did come in, she looked up with a bland smile, as if she hadn't been waiting. His presence seemed to fill up the entire flower shop; she could feel it as keenly as if he were standing right in front of her. “I rather like it,” she acknowledged. “I'm guessing the Psy don't put much value in flowers?” *** Kaleb sensed that they were playing a game of some kind - pretending to not to notice one another or be interested in talking about the depth of thoughts that sparked between them. So he continued the game, intrigued to see how it might unfold. There was something about this relationship that defied Kaleb’s logical thought process and if he prescribed to emotions Kaleb would state that he was delightfully intrigued. “Flowers are not one of the items that Psy generally appreciate,” Kaleb said, looking around again. “It’s an aesthetic choice that has no purpose.” It was a standard answer. Though Kaleb considered it appropriate for her, it wasn’t something he was interested in. There was only so much change he could affect at a time. “And how are you this afternoon?” *** “Well, thank you.” It was really too bad he couldn't appreciate flowers. Sarissa had always appreciated their beauty, even the poisonous blossoms that bloomed in the deepest reaches of Tir Na Nog. Maybe one day. He'd already come a long way since she'd met him. The man she'd originally met would have never even been interested in a date with anyone, let alone be able to identify that one was more enjoyable than the other. Speaking of which… “I'm curious, though. How did your date go and why wasn't it as enjoyable as ours?” *** The answer to that question required Kaleb admitting to things that he generally kept to himself. Actually, it was not just that he kept them to himself, but that he didn’t even admit him consciously. In the depths of his night times and the darkness, Kaleb allowed the thoughts to creep in and knew he was changing in ways he could not properly discuss - he did not have the words of his own. So instead he wandered throughout the shop, stopping and looking at the blooms, hands tucked deeply in the pockets of his trousers. The blackness of his eyes trailed across the vibrancy of the space, taking in each aspect as he catalogued them into pieces of who Sarissa was. Finally, he turned back to her. “The date did go well. I found it enjoyable and gained experience that I would not have otherwise.” Kaleb stopped and looked down at the arrangement in front of him before adding. “I am not sure that I can categorize why I consider ours as a different level of enjoyment.” *** “Maybe I’m just a better date.” Sarissa flashed him a whimsical smile. She didn’t really believe it. She had lots of experience with dates, true, and most of them had gone quite well. But she wasn’t perfect, and different people were looking for different things. She wasn’t sure what Kaleb was looking for - one of the intriguing things about him - but she did know he kept coming back for more. Maybe he liked it when he was challenged. She certainly liked it when he challenged her. “Or maybe, because we’ve known each other longer, and our date served a purpose, it flowed more smoothly. A lot of first dates get awkward if the daters have trouble finding common ground. Do you think that might be the case?” *** Her logical thought process appealed to Kaleb. They were thoughts and ideas that he had sorted through and rejected for the post part. In many ways, Lena was more compatible with Kaleb’s own point of view of the world. She was cool with a hint of warmth and fun and deeply intelligent. In many ways, Kaleb found himself to be compatible with her. On the other hand, she missed what Kaleb considered a needed key - ability to push him outside of his comfort zone. Kaleb knew that his time here was not meant to be spent in comfort, but in exploration - pushing the boundaries of what his abilities could handle. Being with Lena would be easy and could be done without thought. Kaleb knew his life had not ever been easy nor was it meant to be. Nothing about his life would allow him to choose a path that was simple. “There is some logic to your words,” Kaleb said, his powers sweeping across the store, rustling the delicate blooms and heightening the smell of each. “Common ground was not the issue. It is more likely uncommon ground that was the issue.” *** Sarissa took in a deep breath to inhale the fragrance he had released with his telekinesis. Maybe he was right: being in a flower shop did suit her, even if she did have mixed feelings about being so strongly associated with summer. “In that there was too much uncommon ground?” she asked, turning her attention back to the conversation. “Or not enough?” And if there were not enough...Sarissa wanted to meet this woman. A female Kaleb Krychek would be very interesting indeed. *** “If I am to actually make use of the time here,” Kaleb began, not directly answering her question and instead treating her to a portion of his thought process, “then I would need to consider interacting with those who challenge my thinking and my, well, as you would categorize it, complacency.” This time his powers rippled only the sunflowers displayed beside her as he moved to a different position within the shop. “My reflection on the interaction with Lena was that we had more in common than different. I would become more unwilling to change. Therefore, that would make it more interesting for me to be with someone who challenges my thought process.” *** Ah, so he did understand what she’d been trying to tell him, and even more remarkable, he’d decided to agree to the challenge. She was proud of him. And of course, her own pride was pleased that he’d decided he preferred her style of company. She also made note of the name: Lena. She had seen a Lena Luthor on the network a few times; she wondered if it were the same one he’d gone on his date with. “This place does open more opportunities to us than our homes do,” she replied. She lifted her hand to over them over the sunflowers, letting their petals brush over her palm as they moved. It was nice; like petting a dog. “I’m glad you’re open to making the most of them.” *** His eyes watched her gesture, oddly interested in what she felt in the instance and how her interaction with the flowers went. Her embracing of her own senses was so different from the denial of his own that he faced. Kaleb did not ever think he would consider living as she did, but there were possibilities that he should consider. After all, none of this was permanent. “I am willing to accept the opportunities for change,” Kaleb said, black eyes turning to her. “I do not know how that change will come or the impact it may have. It would seem that by being unwilling though, I am saying that I feel fear. And since emotions are not something I understand, then I cannot state that. Do you not agree?” Those black eyes flashed at her, wondering what she would think of his logic. *** It was interesting that Kaleb had latched onto fear as a potential explanation for not wanting to change. Sarissa could've thought of several otherwise: comfort; apathy; even stubbornness. It said a lot about his experiences with his society that fear was the only thing that had come to mind. “No,” she said, after some thought. “I don't agree. I don't imagine you'd understand why right now, maybe because you haven't been exposed to those other reasons. But I'm glad you’re taking this chance. Maybe over time, you'll come to understand why I'm not agreeing with you now.” She gave him a smile to take any sting out of her words. “So you've tried dating, and you've discovered what makes one more enjoyable than another. What's more, you understand the idea of enjoyment. Maybe you’ll understand emotions sooner than you think.” *** It interested Kaleb that she did not agree. Though at the same time he should have expected that since there was little about Sarissa that followed typical patterns. And that was why he appreciated her company so - she did not adhere to what he planned for. “I do look forward to understanding though I do not think that I will gain that understanding through the miracle of sudden emotions,” Kaleb commented, a hint of wry humor in his tone. He moved from across the shop to stand closer to where she was. Kaleb stood and considered her, those black eyes flashing. “I would like to inquire what next task I should consider.” *** Sarissa had always thought Kaleb Krychek to be a ridiculously good-looking man, but in a way that statues were good-looking: fine to admire, but definitely not appropriate to do anything else with. He wouldn’t be able to return any sort of affection any more than a statue would. But, as he stood in front of her very much warm and alive, with sparks of intelligence in those dark, star-field eyes, Sarissa found herself considering suggesting that he try kissing as his next task. And kissing one person in particular. She knew better than to go that far, though. It would be like taking advantage of a child, who didn’t really understand what was happening. Besides, he didn’t even like skin-to-skin contact anywhere. That seemed like the first step he needed to take. “Try to be comfortable with touch,” she suggested. “Shaking hands is common enough. You should at least be able to do that.” *** That was not what Kaleb had thought she would suggest, but as he thought about it the idea was a logical next step. For a few moments, Kaleb rolled the idea around in his mind. The benefits of touch had practical applications as well. Intellectually, Kaleb was well capable of touch and he had removed many of the pain loops associated with touch as a part of removing Enrique’s influence in his mind. Some remained - mostly to keep his powers in check lest he did lose control. “I can be touched and touch others,” Kaleb pointed out logically, reaching out his hand and laying it on her arm before removing it. “I simply do not see the point of touch. It is not vital - not in the manner that it is for others.” Conjuring a chair from his apartment, Kaleb set it down in the shop. He deliberately unbuttoned the jacket and settled himself down into the piece of furniture. “Convince me of its importance.” Kaleb was looking forward to her arguments, partly because her intellectual prowess impressed him on a general basis and partly - he had to admit - he rather wanted to be convinced. *** Leave it to Krychek to turn a flower shop into his own personal throne room. Not for the first time, Sarissa questioned her decision to help him find emotions. If he was this arrogant without feeling arrogant, he was going to be insufferable when he could feel satisfaction and pride. But she was too curious now to stop. She came around the counter and approached his chair, but kept out of reach. She circled the chair for a moment, considering him. “Did you kiss your date?” she asked. *** Those black eyes watched her carefully. Really many would consider her quite aesthetically pleasing considering her elegance and feminine form. And there was a portion of Kaleb male enough to appreciate that. Intellectually Kaleb considered himself above such base things. The line of questioning didn’t make any connections for Kaleb on the other hand and so he merely answered. “Yes, on the cheek. It seemed to be an appropriate choice for the end of an enjoyable time and it appeared to be expected. Just as handshakes are meant to convey trustworthiness and Changelings use touch to solidify relationships.” Kaleb understood gestures, they were not about touch, but about what others thought they meant. *** “Exactly.” Sarissa stopped and turned to look at him approvingly. “It’s not just changelings who value touch as a way to solidify relationships. Most humans do it. They also do it to express affection, comfort, acceptance. The right touch is the quickest way to get the emotional response you’re looking for. “ Now she reached out, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t you think that in itself is worth doing?” *** “To garner a specific emotional response from the subject being touched?” Kaleb inquired, clarifying her question as he considered it. He rolled the thought around - he had actually already considered that in a manner of speaking. When he found Sahara, he would use whatever means necessary to tie her to him in a more permanent manner. And that included using touch. What he was unsure of was how that maneuver would impact him - both mentally and physically. Emotionally he was too distant from such things to think they would have an impact. His black eyes traveled to her hand and then up to her face. “I can see how it could be used to manipulate others, but I rather doubt it could be used to manipulate me.” A hint of amusement touched the black light of his eyes. There was a challenge written there if she was willing to take it. *** Not yet; Kaleb wasn’t anywhere ready to let himself be dictated by emotion. This was a challenge that wouldn’t come to fruition any time soon. Instead, Sarissa withdrew her hand, although she didn’t move back to re-establish the distance between us. “Is that what you think is going on here?” *** Kaleb considered that. And then answered honestly, “No. I don’t think you would attempt to manipulate me through touch. Or other means for that matter. You wish to engage my intellect, to see if I will grow and change of my own free will. Using manipulation would not result in what you are interested in.” He stopped then and considered her again. His telekinesis idly kicked back the chair, letting it rock on two legs as he thought. It was how a child might bounce ball in randomness while talking. “But you are interested in building a connection between us.” Those black eyes focused on her face as the chair touched the ground. He stood and looked down into her face. A hint of a smile touched his lips as he added, “Something that is perhaps already there.” *** “Perhaps,” Sarissa murmured, not committing herself one way or another. Although she had to tip her head back now to look at him, she still didn’t move away. They stood there, less than a foot’s width separating them, and Sarissa was reminded of how beautiful ice could be. “What do you think about that?” Because if there was a connection to be built, he had to be a partner in it. Sarissa could poke and prod and nudge, but she’d never go where he wasn’t willing to follow of his own free will. Perhaps that was manipulation in its way; Sarissa preferred to think of it as not wanting to bother wasting her time on a lost cause. *** The possibility was not unpleasant in Kaleb’s mind. And in the places where he was deeply honest with himself, he was aware that the connection already existed. His black eyes touched across her features and he realised that whether there was one or not, he actually wanted the connection. In fact, interactions with her were often what motivated many of his actions in this location. “I think it is a suitable beginning to build on and that we are well suited to a connection of any sort,” Kaleb commented in that calm quiet voice he maintained. The sparks flashed across that black field of his eyes. If he felt emotions, he definitely would be pleased with the direction of the conversation. *** Sarissa felt a ridiculous flutter of pleasure upon seeing those sparks. She was beginning to understand what they meant now, and she knew that he'd just committed himself to further exploring matters of emotion and touch. She fluttered her lashes at him. “Why Kaleb,” she teased. “You say the sweetest things.” It probably was sweet, too, coming from him. Now she moved back, having gotten the agreement she was looking for, and turned the topic back to what they were originally talking about. “So I hope you'll agree with me that touch is important to establishing relationships and understanding - and manipulating - emotions. You should learn to get comfortable with it.” *** That she thought the words were sweet amused Kaleb. It was that statement alone that told him they understood each other quite well and indeed - there was something between them worth discovering. His powers sent the chair away, no longer in need of the prop. They had reached an agreement that pleased him. It had been not what he originally intended, but he found this outcome quite in line with a direction that would allow him to attempt things he would not otherwise. “I shall heed your words and learn to become comfortable with touch,” Kaaleb commented, again a hint of wry humor sliding through his words. “Though we shall have to agree to slow progress as I learn which boundaries I can cross and those I cannot.” Kaleb paused and considered her. “I know what I shall gain from such a connection. What shall you?” he inquired. *** Sarissa lifted a shoulder, a small smile quirking her lips. “Everyone needs a hobby.” It was a way to pass time here, where very little happened aside from the occasional dome oddity. But she’d always been intrigued by this man who claimed he had no emotions, and she’d wanted, from the start, to show him there was another way. She was glad he was amenable to it. “I don’t mind if you start slow,” she continued, bringing their conversation back to the topic at hand. “But I do want you to start. With me, with other people...the sooner you start, the faster you progress will be.” *** Kaleb did not like to be considered a ‘hobby’, but he sensed that Sarissa did not use that word to mean something without importance. Her seeming casualness about important things made Kaleb want to dig under that exterior to find what lay at its heart. Her intellect implied that there was very little about her that was as simple as it appeared. It was that intrigue that made sure he wanted to return to speak with her again and again. “So I shall start. Is there something you are recommending in particular?” Kaleb was sure that Sarissa had something in mind. She always seemed to have something planned - which is why she had to be more than she appeared - more than just a simple beauty with an affinity for nature. *** He was right: she already had his next step in mind. It was all about that next step; four years of nursing school and another two in rehab medicine had taught her that. “Next time you meet someone new, be the one to offer your hand in a handshake,” she advised. “And when you work with...whoever it is you’re working on your technology with, next time when he or she does something that meets with your approval, clasp him or her on the shoulder.” She demonstrated. “Like this. You will see how far such small gestures can take you in building relationships.” She didn’t mention anything about their relationship, however. She didn’t think he was ready for it. *** It was simplistic in terms of requirements. Kaleb knew that he could do such things - he had done them before. But never first. That would be more difficult since his instincts kept touch as far from thought as possible. Conscious effort would be required. “Very well. I shall do as you suggest.” The organizer in his pocket beeped and Kaleb knew that it indicated an appointment he should keep. “For now, I shall take my leave. We can continue this conversation again at a future juncture.” *** Sarissa inclined her head, still smiling slightly. This had been a good conversation, and one tht would keep her going for the rest of the day. “Good day, Mr. Krychek.” |