Kaleb Krychek (kalebkrychek) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-09-27 16:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2017 september, ~25 points, ~~kaleb krychek (kalebkrychek), ~~~sarissa (ladyofsummer) |
WHO: Kaleb Krychek and Sarissa
WHERE: A restaurant
WHEN: Thursday
WHAT: A date! (or Kaleb gets to have a discussion, just not the one he intended.)
RATING: PG-13 (just to be safe)
STATUS: log; closed; completed gdoc
Kaleb might not allow himself to feel anticipation, but Sarissa did. And she was definitely definitely looking forward to their date - so much so that she didn’t even chide him for not asking properly. She shouldn’t let him get away with it much, but on occasion she could let it slide. She wondered what he wanted to discuss with her that required a face to face meeting. She wondered why it required a date and not just a meeting. Most of all, she just wanted to cross mental swords with him again. He wouldn’t thank her for thinking so, but she found him delightful. It was never boring with him around. She knew the restaurant he was taking her to had a certain dress code - she’d expected t. Kaleb Krychek wasn’t one to hang out in a diner unless it was for experimental purposes, like his date with Lena. She wore a slinky black dress, one that showed her figure to good effect, and applied makeup and jewelry sparingly. It wasn’t for him: she just liked to dress up every so often. She was just pinning up her hair when the clock struck 6:30. Which was precisely when her doorbell rang. One hand holding up her chignon, she opened the door with the other. “Kaleb,” she greeted. “You’re as punctual as ever.” *** “When I decide to change my routine, I shall provide you with advance notice,” Kaleb commented. It was as close to humor as he could manage - a dry wit with a touch of sarcasm. It was who he was and the humor suited him. “I would not want you to be shocked by my behavior.” Those black eyes considered her from head to toe. Her dress was clearly meant to impress him with her ability to seduce - to entice a hormonal reaction. Kaleb decided he was not immune. Nor did he find that he wished to remain immune. If he compared her to an object of art, she would clearly be one of the highest quality. And there was nothing wrong with admiring an exquisite piece of art. And perhaps… Well, those were thoughts for later. After discussion. Instead, he merely stood still and inquired, “Are you in need of a hand?” He tipped his wrist to look at the time. “We have fifteen minutes before our reservation.” *** “I’m sure they’d understand if we were a little late,” Sarissa replied, smiling slightly at the near joke he’d made. “Most people aren’t exactly on time, like you are. Besides, you can teleport in much less time than that.” And the waiting would do him good, she decided. Effort couldn’t be rushed, and Kaleb had to learn he couldn’t expect people to obey his time table. She patted the side of her chignon carefully to make sure it still covered the tips of her ears. She was still self-conscious about her pointed ears - a fact she didn’t want to admit to Kaleb. He wouldn’t understand the depth of shame and longing and regret every time she looked at them in the mirror, and she didn’t want to subject that bundle of complicated emotions to his dissection. It was too personal for that. “I’m all right. I just need to get my purse-“ and she went to pick it up instead of levitating it to her “-and I’m ready.” She smiled at him. “Shall we?” *** Kaleb watched the movements, noting the unwillingness to allow him to help. He wondered if that was purposeful or not. His mind categorized the behavior, tagging it to consider later and wonder if he could place together all the pieces without information from her. It was a puzzle he rather enjoyed. Glancing at his watch, Kaleb nodded with approval. He did not like to be late so he appreciated that despite her words, she had completed her toiletry on time. A gentlemen at his core, Kaleb offered her his arm. “And as you are as elegantly attired as usual, we can depart. If you would take my arm, I shall bring us to our destination.” He stood and waited, eyes watching her every move, pleasureble white sparks flashing briefly across the dark field of his gaze. *** Sarissa was getting to know him well enough to know that the white sparks passed for a smile for him, and she felt her own smile brighten. He was coming along, her little Pygmalion. Well, not so little. She could feel the muscled strength in his arm as she tucked her arm around it, and the steadiness of his frame as he teleported them to the restaurant. There, she was proud to note that all the trappings of social civility that she’d taught him came easily and smoothly, and she told him so once the waiter had seated them and taken their drink order. “That was almost sincere,” she remarked, peering at him over the menu. “Have you been practicing?” *** “Only mentally,” Kaleb commented, laying the menu open in front of him. His research into the location had provided him with an idea of what food to try. Tonight there would be a slight change in what he ordered. He wondered what she would think of it. “I did not think that you would approve of practice with random people,” Kaleb commented, “though perhaps you are more interested in sharing my growing abilities than I had logically planned for.” The waiter returned and Kaleb smoothly ordered a caprese salad for a starter and the spaghetti carbonara for his main once Sarissa had placed her order. Finished, he waited for her comment. *** “I think practicing with different people will definitely help your social skills grow faster,” Sarissa began, but when he gave his order, she stopped and looked at him, impressed. “Balsamic vinegar and tomato sauce? You really are growing,” she remarked. “I think you’ve been holding out on me.” *** “I believe you told me that risks result in reward,” Kaleb commented, leaning back slightly in his chair, pleased with her reaction. While Kaleb might not admit to emotion, that she was impressed left him feeling quite satisfied. Hopefully his topic of discussion would merit just as much interest. “And while others may assist in my skills improving, more can often be better,” Kaleb continued, watching her face, registering the micro expressions that crossed her face. “Though I prefer the state of quality to quantity.” Those dark eyes looked into hers. “You, as evidenced tonight, are definitely quality.” *** If she didn’t know better, Sarissa would’ve suspected he was buttering her up for something. She still suspected it, because even though he didn’t feel emotions himself, she knew he was interested in manipulating them. “Why Kaleb.” She fluttered her lashes at him. “I do believe you just complimented me. Between that and your order, I’m wondering if you’ve been replaced by an imposter.” Whether he was planning something or not, she wasn’t going to make this easy for him. He’d be bored otherwise, and so would she. *** “It was a compliment,” Kaleb readily admitted. He was blunt when needed. It was, generally, his preferred method of discussion. He doubted Sarissa would expect anything less from him in most situations. Flattery was not in his usual repertoire, but he had been reading in preparation. “And at the same time, a statement of fact. Based on my past experiences and interactions with you, you do appreciate the finer things. In fact, I believe you expect them to a degree. There is something in your background that speaks of being above others. It is not just the power you wield, there is more to it. I cannot decipher it, but perhaps you shall tell me at your leisure.” During the words, he casually unbuttoned the suit jacket and leaned forward, creating intimacy between them. *** “Hmm,” said Sarissa thoughtfully. It was interesting that he’d picked up some sort of expectation of the finer things in life from her, and some sort of status. It didn’t fit with her own perception of herself. Having been a changeling instead of a full-fledge fae, she’d been at the bottom of totem pole in the Winter Court for centuries. And Mab had been very careful not to reveal her as her daughter - just a favoured plaything. Sarissa had always known her place in Court was precarious. And outside of Court, she’d tried to make her own way - which meant getting basic jobs that sometimes resulted in eating canned tuna for weeks at a time. (She still remembered those years in Hollywood when she’d been trying to make it as an actress, where she’d sustained herself on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.) So what was he picking up on? She hoped it was simply from the way she carried herself, and not the Mantle, which was used to status and privilege and the good things in life. She was being so careful not to let it leak through. But maybe it was. She picked up her water and sipped, so her silence wouldn’t be so obvious. “A woman has to keep some secrets,” she said. “Otherwise she’d be boring. Nonetheless, your flattery - or statements of fact - are quite insightful. I suggest you keep going in this direction. Now…” She set her glass down and changed the topic. “What is it you’d like to discuss with me?” *** “Mayhap I like boring,” Kaleb drawled out, watching her sip the water, wondering what was going through her mind. There was something and she continue to keep that information close to her chest. Kaleb wondered what would get her to spill her secrets. He doubted it was flattery or even time. It would require true intimacy - something Kaleb could not offer. And he knew that Sarissa was intelligent enough to know when he was not being sincere. Again pleasure slid briefly across his mind, glad that she was intrigued by his need for a discussion. Before he could allow her to pursue his line of questioning, the waiter delivered their appetizers. So instead of answer immediately, he slowly cut modest size pieces from his starter and began eating. He slowly chewed and ate, eyes on her, wondering how long he could withhold what she wanted. “Soon enough for that discussion. Tell me instead about how work has been going. What shall the flower store do the month of winter?” Kaleb inquired. *** Ah, so it was going to be like that. Sarissa wondered if he was deliberately being a tease, or if he was just taking her words to heart about keeping some mystery. She decided he was being a tease. She’d indulge him a bit. Her lips quirking up in a slight smile, she replied. “Anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions happen all year round,” she replied. “People always need flowers. Speaking of which…” She lifted an eyebrow, taking her turn to tease. “I notice a distinct lack of flowers for our date tonight.” *** Her willingness to follow his lead in this matter pleased Kaleb. It was a subtle maneuver to see how interested she was in the topic. He did not wish to broach his true topic of interest without knowing she was willing and desirable to consider such a conversation. “Do you have a supplier or do you grow them yourself? Your power must be capable of changing the grow season of any vegetation despite the natural world’s desire.” Kaleb again was testing to see what she would admit to and what she continued to withhold from him. Of course, there was a great deal about him he refrained from discussing and certainly did not plan on inviting her interest in any area he was protective of. Her question though did not even remotely give him pause. Kaleb did not leave anything to chance. “Gifts are for a later point in the evening.” Again sparks slid across the black field of his gaze, a sure sign of his own amusement. *** “Flowers come the same way as any of the supplies here,” Sarissa replied. She’d chosen a salad for herself, and was currently delicately picking her way through all the greens. “But I help out.” The vague reply came easily to her; she’d been dealing with implications and half-truths all her life. For someone who wanted precision and control as much as Kaleb did, however, it’d probably be frustrating - if he could feel frustration. Maybe that was why he was dangling things in front of her: to get some of his own back. She wondered if vengeance was an emotion. “You have gifts planned,” she said, pausing in her eating to mull over a small detail of what he’d said. “Plural.” *** There was little that escaped her notice. Kaleb appreciated that and it showed in the upward quirk of his lip for a brief moment. “Do you choose to offer more help than ordering - something to make your items stand out?” he inquired, choosing to deliberately ignore her statement about gifts. His plans were his own. And unless she decided to attempt to read his mind, it would remain that way. Taunting one another with a lack of information went back and forth for a good portion of the evening until the waiter came to offer dessert. Kaleb refused, accepting instead a cup of coffee. With the coffee in front of him, Kaleb inquired, “Would you be willing to return with me to my apartment for our conversation that I had inquired about before?” *** “And here I thought this date was to have the discussion you had in mind,” Sarissa remarked, lifting an eyebrow. “But it seems you wanted the date in itself.” He was getting the hang of the lessons she’d been teaching him remarkably fast. She should have expected that, but somehow she was still surprised. She’d definitely underestimated him there. Now she was left wondering what he had planned. It was a subtle shift of power, away from her and her knowledge of emotions and towards him, who currently held the cards. She wasn’t sure she liked it - but she was still intrigued. “What did I tell you about the expectations of going to someone’s home after a date?” *** “It is not an expectation, it is a question.” Kaleb was very clear that he did not expect her to come to his location for the conversation. “If you wish to go somewhere else instead, that can be arranged. I merely prefer to have private conversations in private. Is this not the expected?” He was mocking her slightly, but then he knew she could handle it. Her intelligence would allow her to combat his plans. It was part of the dance between them. “Have you a different suggestion?” *** Sarissa could think of any number of places where they could have privacy. With a thought, she could render their conversation incomprehensible right now, unable to be heard by anyone else in the restaurant. By she was curious to see what Kaleb Krychek’s home looked like. Would it be as barren as he claimed his emotions to be? Or would he try to put in some of the artwork he claimed to be able to appreciate? “No,” she said, and dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. She gave him a serene smile. “Let’s go to your place.” *** Again the sparks slid across the dark field of his eyes. Kaleb did so like when the world followed along with his plan. Of course that generally happened - he was a force to be reckoned with and he did not allow things to get in his way. “I am glad that you agree,” Kaleb said. A smirk was clear in his tone. “We can go whenever you choose. Perhaps you would care for a walk outside first though.” Yes, he was taunting her, drawing things out. *** Sarissa tilted her head, staying where she was. He was getting much too comfortable now, believing he was the one who held all the control. It was time to disabuse him of the notion. Maybe everyone else did whatever they asked of him, but Sarissa was his equal now. She’d only play along so long. “Perhaps,” she agreed. “But…” And here she looked at her watch. “I do have plans at 10:30. Do you think we have enough time for both a walk and that discussion?” *** Her reaction was somewhat unexpected. Kaleb did not appreciate that she had other plans. It showed in the fact that his eyes when darker for the briefest of moments. Again he wrenched control back from her. “A walk then,” Kaleb concluded. “If needed, the discussion can be postponed. I am willing to wait for the best time for things. Patience shall pay off.” Standing, he moved and reached for her chair, pulling it out for her. “Shall we?” he asked, smug at being back in control. *** So he valued this game even more than he valued the reason he’d asked her to dinner in the first place. Interesting. Either the reason wasn’t that important, or control was even more vital to him than Sarissa thought. “All right,” she said amiably. She could play too; she’d spent too much time at Court not to learn a few things. “It’s a good thing it’s not too time sensitive. I find myself very busy these days.” If he wanted to discuss this - and he had to, if he was the one who’d brought it up - he could make time for it. *** The back and forth between them amused Kaleb. If there was pleasure in his life, it was in battling the intelligence of someone else. And it was that intrigued Kaleb so much about Sarissa and made him return to her again and again. In fact, Kaleb did not think he would ever get tired of her. Again he offered her his arm, escorting her from the restaurant. Near the space was a well paved path that wound through the woods. As they walked, Kaleb experimented by laying his hand over hers on his arm. “So what is keeping you so busy? I had no idea that the flower business could be so demanding.” Kaleb could feel that the game between them was ramping up and the discussion may occur without him ever saying a word. Now that was a tactic he hadn’t considered. Kaleb mulled it over as they walked. *** “No, but having a social life is.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, because as a Fae, Sarissa couldn’t lie. That didn’t mean she couldn’t offer half truths here and there. And having a social life was demanding. It just didn’t have to be her own social life. She just had enough of one to keep her days interesting. She gave him a sidelong look. “You’re not the only one I have dinner with.” *** “But I am the most interesting,” Kaleb commented, again a quick upward quirk of his lips appeared. His confidence could not be punctured. Perhaps because his ego was so large. There was little reason for him not to be confident. Not in his mind anyway. Again he poked at her, trying to gain a better understanding of her abilities. “A need of your power then.” It was not an assumption with fact, but more meant to poke at her. And as his mind considered his tactics, he pulled her closer to him, aligning their bodies more closely. He could sense the warmth of her body and knew that being closer to her would bring a pleasure that would override his understanding of the world. That made Kaleb more certain of his plan. *** “My power does have needs,” Sarissa agreed mildly. Again, not a lie. But bothering near the truth. When he pulled her closer, she found herself surprised once more. “Are you sure you haven’t been practicing? When we met you didn’t even like to be touched.” Now he was almost outright embracing her. *** “I have been considering several things,” Kaleb commented vaguely. “Perhaps you would prefer not to be touched?” Kaleb didn’t think so. Again he felt that touch was highly needed by Sarissa and her powers. Her vague answer about power having needs was so generic that it provided no answer. “If that is the case, perhaps you have more pressing plans.” *** “Not until 10:30,” Sarissa said calmly. He’d definitely stepped up his game, and she was going to have to stay on her toes to keep ahead. Or even keep up. She was definitely enjoying this, though. Even strolling arm in arm with him was enjoyable. If he were anyone else, and if she were anyone else, she’d even call it romantic. “What kind of things have you been considering?” She deliberately didn’t ask if those things under consideration had to do with what he wanted to talk to her about. That would be playing right into his hands. *** “Human nature,” Kaleb answered. She wasn’t going to get him to answer that question with a direct response and he sensed that she was well aware of that. It was part of pretending that there was not a tug of war between them. “We covered some of that in our network conversation,” Kaleb continued. “I have been attempting to better understand the nature of human emotions. It is a process that sparks thinking. I find I know little of humans, but then previously I would have little need for such knowledge.” They came upon a bench and Kaleb indicated that they should sit. He unbuttoned the jacket of his suit and sat down, his arm along the back of the bench, keeping her close, again testing himself as much as her. *** Sarissa settled down on the bench, neither trying to avoid him nor sinking into the perch he’d so invitingly set up for her. He’d had this well thought out, she was beginning to see, and she was determined not to let him affect the way she acted. It would be too easy to be subsumed by the force of his personality, even when he was trying to show a more casual side of himself. “You’re doing well,” she remarked, keeping her gaze on him. “But I think you already know that.” *** “It is an interesting experiment to see what I know and what I don’t,” Kaleb commented looking into the distance. “I know that the last time we truly spoke I mentioned being more willing to explore the aspects of being human that I do not subscribe to.” They were heading towards the nature of what he wanted to discuss, but again he withheld the actual topic. “I don’t know that true emotions - those that humans embrace with such ease and share without thinking of who is watching - will ever be within my grasp of expressing or understanding.” Those black eyes turned to look to her specifically and he angled himself to face her more completely. “But I find that even with watching I remember when I thought such parts of life were possible.” *** “Mmhmm.” Sarissa acknowledged his words, but she didn’t offer anything more on the subject. This was nothing they hadn’t already discussed before; when he was ready to talk about what had changed, he would. *** It took no effort for him to reach out with his telekinesis and brush it along the piece of hair that had slipped down from chignon she had put it into earlier. Kaleb’s mind wondered what it might feel like to his touch. He had been experimenting with the touch sensation, but inanimate items were different than the sensation of touching an actual human. Though he did not feel temptation, Kaleb was curious and he gave into the curiousity by running this fingers down the arm near him. Her skin was softer than he expected. Interesting. He wondered if it was true for all parts of her skin. His fingers continued to gently touch her arm as he looked off into the distance. “There was a time when I was more likely to experience emotions. When there was someone who wanted me to change. Someone who was not Silent.” It was the first time he had ever told or even hinted about Sahara. Oddly, he was certain that she and Sarissa would have been in agreement about his need to change and the importance of bullying him into it. *** Her skin was warm, too. Despite the chill of the evening, she radiated the warmth of a summer night. She held still as he explored the sensation of touch, but when his attention turned inward and to the past, she shifted away to move out of his reach. She wanted them both to focus on his words. “Tell me about that time,” she invited softly. There had to be a reason why he was bringing it up now. It was one of the rare times he’d talked about his past and his attitude towards emotions in any sort of capacity other than not having any. *** “It was a different place, a different time,” Kaleb commented, turning to look at Sarissa. “Hope seemed possible.” Kaleb stopped and then started again. “I learned that some things were not meant for me - whether I wanted them or not. Having even a chance at them led to others being hurt.” His power slipped its reins despite Kaleb’s strict control and the rock near them imploded from the pressure Kaleb’s power applied to it - leaving only a pile of dust behind. Memories of Sahara flooded from his barriers and then were wrenched back and strangled. “You remind me of that time.” *** Sarissa didn’t react to the explosion; she had too much practice staying still and not showing fear when it came to dangerous situations. She did, however, let her gaze cut sharply to the rock in question, and only when she’d determined it wasn’t a threat did she return her gaze to Kaleb. She found it hard to imagine a time when Kaleb had had hope - he seemed so set in the way he was now - but it made sense. He’d been a child once, with all the hopes and dreams of a child, until it’d been tortured out of him. It was so terribly sad. “What happened to this person who wanted you to have emotions?” she asked quietly. This was the key, she felt. *** “She was taken from me,” Kaleb said, his voice and face colder than he had ever been. The wind around them rose once more courtesy of his power before he again wrenched himself under control. “Taken because I dared to have hope. Because I allowed myself to feel.” Those black eyes, dark with his struggle to keep his hate for Enrique in check, turned to look at her. “You would have hated Enrique and loved Sahara. But you can see why emotions would be .. troublesome.” *** ...and now the pieces were falling into place. Sarissa straightened, meeting his gaze squarely. “It seems to me that it’s not emotions that’s the problem, but people who so desperately want control that they would think to manipulate young children by taking away the very things that are important to them. Do you really think it was your fault that Sahara was taken away from you? Do you think it was because you dared hope? It wasn’t. And you’re right: whoever this Enrique is, I hate him already, because he’s the classic abuser who brainwashes his victims into thinking all the abuse is deserved. It is not.” *** “It was my fault,” Kaleb retorted matter of factly. There was no argument as far as he was concerned. He didn’t expect Sarissa to completely understand. Nor did he have plans to explain what happened that fateful evening. “It was not about hope truly, but about daring to care for someone. I should have protected her and I didn’t.” The wind speed again increased and Kaleb stood, not quite able to hold himself still as he again wrenched on his power. It rolled across the space as he attempted to get his deep seated anger at himself under control. *** Sarissa could feel how power rippling through him and from him, whipping up a flurry of air and debris as they talked. A subtle radiation of her own power ensured that she wouldn’t get hit by anything, and there was no one else on this walkway this time of night. She could focus on him and this conversation. “From whom? That’s what you should be focusing your anger on, Kaleb. And yes, ta anger. Look at what you’re doing here!” She gestured to the windstorm. “You’re taking the blame for something someone else did.” *** “From me,” Kaleb answered, in a voice closer to ice than he'd ever been while in Madison Valley. To him there was never any doubt about the blame. Enrique may have been a sadistic bastard on his good days, but the pain and endangerment of Sahara only happened because he had dared to break free. Still he untangled the hooks of Enrique from his mind. There was no telling what traps he may have missed. “It is the burden I need to bear.” His eyes went fully black, blocking all pinpricks of light that normally flashed across the field, as he slammed down shields, blocking the telekinesis from acting on his emotional response to the discussion. Sealing himself behind a wall of ice, hiding in the routine familiarity of Silence, dull points of light returned to his eyes. “I didn't hurt you?” he asked. If pressed he could identify that he was concerned, but at the moment attempting to express the concern was not with his ability. *** Sarissa shook her head, but she looked solemn. So much made sense now: Kaleb’s insistence that he had to keep his emotions under check and his desire to control everything around him. He hadn’t had it before; he’d been the one being controlled before. And in that time, he’d been brainwashed into thinking that having emotions meant hurting the people he loved. Now he wanted to control everything so it wouldn’t happen again. How tragic. “What happened to her?” she asked quietly. “Sahara, I think you said her name was.” *** “I know she was taken. And I know she is still alive. Beyond that, I do not have the knowledge the answer that question,” Kaleb continued. He carefully sat back down beside Sarissa. “At home, I am making attempts to find her. I have been since that last moment I saw her.” Kaleb closed his eyes briefly. When the reopened, he was calm and seemed more like himself. “Someone has hidden her very well from me. But I do not doubt that I will find her and I will rectify the situation.” It was said with firm assure and the belief that he would manage such a thing. *** Sarissa found herself feeling sorry for whoever had taken this Sahara, although she knew she shouldn’t. Anyone who kidnapped someone to control someone else deserved what they got. But there was a coiled menace in Kaleb when he spoke that made Sarissa think that they had gotten in deeper than they thought. “It sounds like she’s very important to you,” she remarked. “Who is she?” *** “She believed I could be more than I was,” Kaleb said. There was no way to categorize Sahara as far as he was concerned. “I… you would call us friends.” There was a slight hint of a smile before it naturally was hidden. “In many ways, she was my conscience in a way that I could not be for myself.” That was probably closer to the truth. Kaleb did not even know what to say. He had shared something with Sahara that could not be completely defined. And while it seemed appropriate for Sarissa to know, the words for it were hard for him. *** The pieces were clicking into place rapidly now. Once, Kaleb had been an ordinary boy - as ordinary as a powerful telepath and telekinetic could be - with friends and hopes and dreams. Someone - Enrique - had sought to control him and his power by taking away his one anchor to normality. And now Kaleb was seeking control of his own, so no one could render him helpless again, while he looked for his lost friend. It was almost operatic. And it explained so much. Sarissa was surprised he was willing to reveal so much, too. He truly was making a lot of progress; she doubted he realized just how much. “I’d put my odds on you finding her,” Sarissa said simply. It was a statement of fact as well as to bolster the hope he didn’t realize he still needed. Kaleb had proven himself ruthless and efficient in pursuit of what he wanted. “And I pity anyone who tries to get in your way.” *** Her statement surprised Kaleb. He wasn’t even sure why. Turning to look at her, he gave her something he rarely offered - touch. Reaching out he gently laid his hand on top of one of hers. “Thank you,” he commented. “Though I am not sure they even deserve pity. They made a choice to oppose me. Justice will be served.” His gaze turned out to the vista in front of him, his hand still on hers. Again, he offered her something. “There are few I would go to such lengths for.” HIs black eyes turned to her and he suddenly added, “I believe that you could be one.” *** Oh, he was full of surprises tonight. And Sarissa could even believe this wasn’t a calculated attempt to gain her confidence. Kaleb had expressed interest in manipulating emotions, but he’d never actually tried that on her. “That’s very nice of you to say,” she said, and she squeezed his hand gently. “Thank you.” *** It was the limit of Kaleb’s ability to be emotional for the evening. Mentally he felt a bit rare - like he had been abraded with sandpaper. “Of course,” he said and then stood, his hand still around hers. Kaleb gave a gentle tug to pull her to her feet. “Let us continue our walk. You can explain to me why you are so vehement about how I was brainwashed.” The touch was momentarily overwhelming and Kaleb dropped her hand, using his to rebutton his suit jacket to be more comfortable. *** That he’d even held onto her that long was quite remarkable, so she pretended not to notice when he dropped his hand. “Think of it logically,” she said as they resumed their walk. “If this were to happen to another child, would you blame him for having his friend taken away? Would you think that he’s a failure for not protecting his friend?” *** “It depends on the circumstances,” Kaleb said. “What you speak is often common place among the Psy. Emotional connections are not encouraged and so therefore it be unremarkable to separate two children who are overly relying on one another. In this location, it seems cruel and unnecessary.” They walked along the path and Kaleb asked, “You never had such experiences? Was your childhood that ideal?” Kaleb had a sense that it was not, but he wanted her to admit that so he did not have to rely on his own impression of her. *** Sarissa held up her finger with a tch. “No, no, let’s answer your first question before we move on. You asked why I thought you were brainwashed. I want to ask you: is blaming a young child for something he could not help and had nothing to do with common in your world? Because that’s exactly what you’re doing do yourself, and that’s why I’m saying you’ve been brainwashed: because you believe it.” It was a direct sidestepping of his question, but Sarissa wasn’t going to let him get away with not facing what had been done to him. *** A single eyebrow rose as he looked at Sarissa. She was deliberately avoiding his question in return - that was unequivicable. In fact, Kaleb was quite certain she rarely volunteered anything about himself and even more so, she never answered pointed questions. There had to be something that made her so cagey about her life at home. It was fascinating to Kaleb. But he was willing to indulge her for a few moments. Not forever. There had to be something that would make her more forthcoming, but he was patient enough to wait til that happened. “Children are not children as you think of them,” Kaleb answered. “They are merely small adults to the Psy - reminders of heritage, power over others, agreements to continue bloodlines, quests for money and prestige. I do not deny that what happened to me was, perhaps, extreme, but it was not uncommon either.” *** “It sounds horrendous,” Sarissa said simply. Her childhood was by no means rosy, but she at least had the understanding that it was wrong. “It might not be uncommon, but do you think it’s right to do all that to a child and then make him think it’s his own fault?” *** “There are better ways of raising a child and training them,” Kaleb said. “It is clear among humans and Changelings that such things are true. The Psy have lost touch with more appropriate means of raising children in an effort to make sure that they are Silent.” “I do not claim to know what is best,” Kaleb added. He could sense she wasn’t going to allow him to continue to avoid truly answer. “But what happened to me was not right.” *** That was what Sarissa had been looking for. Now that he’d acknowledged it, she inclined her head. “I hope you find your friend, when you’re sent back,” Sarissa said. “And that you’re able to make the reforms you wanted.” But for her own sake, she found herself hoping he wouldn’t be sent back too soon. Life here would be so much more boring without him. It might even be worse than Harry’s departure. *** If he was normal, Kaleb would have rolled his eyes at Sarissa’s desire to get him to admit what was right and wrong. As it was, Kaleb didn’t believe what he said completely. What had happened to Sahara still boiled down to his choices. There were things he should have done instead, but he could not go back. Instead, he would have to rectify his mistake. That was neither here nor there in their conversation. “I am sure that I will be successful. Now you can answer my question about your idyllic childhood.” *** “I never said my childhood was ideal,” Sarissa pointed out. “But then again, there are few people who could make that claim. There’s always something to take issue with. The difference is in the severity of the issue, and whether they realize it’s one.” Again, none of it was a lie. But she wasn’t giving specifics, either. *** This time, Kaleb called her on her constant evasion. “What are you hiding that you do not give straight answers?” Kaleb peered at her. “You rarely speak of yourself and your experiences back home. I cannot tell if your evasion is because it was unpleasant or because there is something to hide.” Again, his curiosity was calling at him to pry into her answer to find what was real and what wasn’t. “Or if you merely do it to keep me interested enough to keep asking questions.” *** His last speculation drew a small laugh out of her, and she turned to him, dark eyes dancing with humour. Unlike his bouts of humour, hers was obvious. But it had to be, when she was teasing him. “Not everything is about you, Kaleb,” she pointed out. “Besides, I suspect you’d keep asking questions regardless.” Part of his need for control, she knew, involved a need to know. She could tell him all about her childhood and he’d still want to know more. But she wasn’t going to. “As I mentioned, I’m not interested in sharing my story to sate anyone’s curiosity,” she said. “If I do, it’s to share a piece of myself with a confidant. Which you, for all your intelligence and power, are not.” *** Kaleb shook his head. It didn’t matter what she said, Kaleb was sure she was doing it to teach him a lesson. It was fair enough. Perhaps there was something he could learn. Though he highly doubted it. “Very well then,” Kaleb said, “We shall see if I can earn such an exalted status.” They had reached the end of the trail by that point. Kaleb glanced at his watch. “Do you still wish to come to my apartment or would you prefer to go to your other evening activities?” *** Sarissa, too, glanced down at her watch. Half an hour to her arbitrarily set deadline. She considered. “How much time do you need? And how much privacy?” At this time of night, they were the only ones on the trail; as far as privacy went, it probably afforded as much as anyone’s apartment. *** For a few moments Kaleb considered his options. There were several. It would take no effort to teleport them to his apartment. Even less effort to teleport the item here. But then should he reward her for being obstinate in sharing with him? That did not seem appropriate in his mind. Besides, he liked withholding things from her - just enough to keep her curious about him. Reaching a decision, Kaleb said, “It will have to wait. The discussion is more lengthy as I wish to be thorough. Privacy may or may not be needed, depending on the direction of your answers. So it is best to save such things for when you are not pressed for time.” Kaleb offered her his arm. “May I escort you to your next appointment?” he inquired, flashes of amusement in his eyes. *** He had her, and he knew it. She could tell by the sparks in his eyes, betraying the amusement he’d never admit to. Either she give up the plans she’d arbitrarily set for herself to sate her curiosity, or she went home without knowing what he’d wanted to talk about in the first place. That was all right. Sarissa knew how to be patient. She smiled back calmly. “That’s quite all right, I’ll manage. Do let me know when you want to meet up to discuss this. But Kaleb - a word of advice: as much as I enjoyed the free meal, it’s generally polite to follow through with what you asked for when you ask someone to meet up.” *** “A preview then,” Kaleb said, again with those lights sparked through his gaze. Delighted with her willingness to play the elaborate game they had staged. It amused him greatly. The feeling of amusement was odd, but at the same time, soothing to Kaleb. It connected him back to Sahara and the pleasure her being a part of his life had wrought - despite how it had all ended. Kaleb layered his shields, tightening down his power and keeping himself under tight control. He reached out a hand and gently cupped her cheek. The softness was nearly overwhelming to his senses, but it was hard to decide whether it was the sensation or her specifically. To be explored later. Leaning down, he whispered to her, building intimacy between them. “Here is to one day being your confidant as you are already mine.” Gently and slowly, he kissed her, taking his time and savouring the experience. “Good night.” And with that, he stroked a thumb across her cheek, leaving not only his touch but the brush of his telekinesis behind as he teleported away. *** Sarissa was left in the dark, staring at the space where he’d been. After a moment, she lifted her fingers to her lips and smiled. Oh yes, he was coming along very nicely indeed. |