Eyes
Title: Ways of Seeing Things Authors: ladynero, pegunicent Characters: Abel Nightroad, Sydney Losstarot Fandom: Trinity Blood, Vagrant Story Theme Set: Ten Set 03 Theme(s): Eyes Warnings and Notes: Post-Game Vagrant Story setting, during the Armageddon of Trinity Blood. Complete crack and half naked men of faith.
Pegunicent: Sydney stared across the land, the image of the map firm in his mind. A straight line, delineating but not dividing. Walls were meant to be broken down. Walls divided. Peace could only truly come when you made your enemy your family. A road then. A road that led no where, that stood as a line, but also stood as a possibility. "We all walk the road of life to it's ultimate end, to find there is neither beginning nor end at all." he murmured to Abel. It would take a lot of power. A lot of power. Which was why he had to do it now, with the moons both hidden and the Dark willing. Now, while the peace was still new enough to provide hope, but before the difficulties of it moved some to malcontent. He closed his eyes and let the Dark fill him, flowing through him until he glowed with it, blue sparkles shedding from his skin as the road spilled forth in glimmering stone.
Ladynero: Abel watched as Sydney started glowing, the pyreflies flittering through the sky and seeming to herald the roadway. This was taking quite a bit out of Sydney to do, and Abel had already promised to watch Lea Monde while Sydney was resting. He already had a few ideas from one of the older texts that Sydney had by some magistrate of some long forgotten town, and the cannibalized computer had already provided a fruitful endeavor. "We each find our own path on the road of life. Some walk with companions and other walk with lovers and enemies alike. I will walk with you until you no longer desire my company, watching your back and your city," he murmured in return. He wasn't sure where the words came from but they fit.
Pegunicent: "And I will see you have a road to walk that leads to more than heart ache." Sydney promised, blind to all but the work before him. He supposed it should hurt, channeling so very much through such a finite space as a single soul, but all he could feel was the Dark purring at him. It took hours, wringing everything from him, every thought, every breath, and when it was complete he sank directly into the Dark, scattering pyreflies on the wind with a strangled whimper of relief.
Ladynero: Reaching out, Abel caught one of the pyreflies and cradling it in his hands. "You have already done so much for me, Sydney Losstarot, Prophet of Mullenkamp and the Dark. You have given me hope. I only pray that I can be half the friend that you are." He released the pyrefly and started back for Lea Monde. It was rather nice that Sydney had started the road from the island, dividing the continent quite neatly while marking Lea Monde as a neutral spot. Seth and a couple of weary soldiers had agreed to man the toll booth on the island to charge people who just wanted to visit. It would take time for word to spread, but Abel was already planning on going to talk to some of the neighboring villages on both sides of the road about sending some fresh supplies in.
Pegunicent: He slept for a month, deep in the heart of the Dark. During that time, both races came to claim the road as a miracle. The new Pope named it The Angel's Road, and declared it a sign from God. The Vampires also thought it was a sign from God, but they called it 'The Master's Road' and had a very different idea of who and what God was. Sydney woke to impression he was going to really, really regret getting out of bed.
Ladynero: Abel looked up from his two ledgers that he was scribbling in. He had taken to living in the Cathedral once his present from Sydney had been delivered from Albion. Between Seth and himself, they had managed to move the feather bed Sydney had made for him that first night into one of the back rooms of the Cathedral after politely informing the Dark that he was planning on doing so to keep a better eye on the Cathedral and Library. He had started the one ledger as a record who was permanently living in Lea Monde and what their taxes were, figured by what they sold or how they helped Lea Monde. The second ledger was for the offerings brought to the Cathedral for Sydney. What he could, Abel turned back into Lea Monde's economy, purchasing supplies or food. The rest was stockpiled neatly in a few other rooms of the Cathedral while books went into the Library for Sydney to enjoy at his leisure. Any duplicates were put in another house that had been made into a public library.
Pegunicent: Sydney rather reluctantly stepped from the comfortable grip of the Dark back into the world of the living. Stretching with a yawn, he noticed he still felt a bit... off. Not entirely surprising, no matter how much time had passed. It was one thing to cast spells and conjure until you were ready for a nap. It was quite another to pull a miracle out of your ass while trusting that the Dark liked you well enough to put you back together when it was done.
Ladynero: "Welcome back, My Lord Angel," teased Abel where he was sitting on the alter steps. "Or is it My Lord Master?"
Pegunicent: Sydney stared at Abel for a long moment. "I beg your pardon?" He looked around the room, noting he had indeed come back to the Cathedral out of habit. Only the Cathedral wasn't quite as he'd left it anymore. "I'm fairly certain the title Lord only applies to the fact I own land, not that I force people to work it."
Ladynero: "The Pope is claiming that your dividing road is a sign from God and you are one of his Angelic Messengers, thus naming the road the Angel's road," explained Abel, rising to his feet and tucking the ledgers under his arm. "The vampires on the other hand, have a different idea about who and what God was, also taking the road as a sign from him but calling it the Master's Road. Both have been bringing offerings to leave to you at the Cathedral here and I have been keeping a record of who and what." He offered that ledger. "Any books that are not duplicates of what you already possess are in a public library for all to access." He smiled. "Lea Monde, on the other hand, has been attracting people who want to live in peace and set up their businesses in safety. Two families even opened up taverns and hotels to handle the pilgrims coming here."
Pegunicent: Sydney blinked. Then tramped on the urge to rub his eyes and do it again. "Lunacy. Idiocy. What in Iocus's seven levels of stupidity does *god* have to do with it? It's a road! It goes no where from nowhere for the sole purpose of dividing a bunch of idiots so they stop tearing each others throats out!" He sat down heavily and put his face in his palms. "I am surrounded by buffoons."
Ladynero: Tucking the ledger back under his arm, Abel reached out and patted Sydney's shoulder. "I do have something that will make you feel better," he offered. "I added a few things to your Library."
Pegunicent: He sighed and looked at Abel with a weary smile. "You're thoughtful." he looked at the ledger tucked in Abel's arms. "And taking this much better than I. At least you have some idea of how to proceed. I had hoped after hammering out the basics and weathering the worst of the backlash people would go on with their lives and allow Lea Monde to sink back into memory. Now I have to deal with a whole new set of idiots."
Ladynero: "I tried to ignore the offerings at first, but they started building up, making a horrible mess of the Cathedral," he confessed, reaching down to lightly grasp Sydney's wrist and lead him up to the Library. It had taken quite a bit of doing, but one of the woodworkers had been more than happy to build more shelves in the upper floors while he and Seth organized the new books. "So, the money gets put back into Lea Monde's economy by purchasing food and supplies as needed, and the rest goes in those rooms there." He nodded at the doors as they passed. "The Cathedral itself is open to the public like any business, but only from sunrise to sunset. And that is the main Congregation Hall. The rest of the Cathedral is off limits to everyone except Seth, Cain, Lilith, and myself." He offered a wry smile. "I didn't think you wanted your home overrun with idiots and miscreants. Lilith and Cain I doubted I could keep out if I wanted to."
Pegunicent: "I thank you. I'm sure I can find some way of distributing what ever is cluttering up the closets and oh my..." He blinked and gazed at the expanded library, soaking in the sight of so many *new* volumes. They were bound in cloth, some in a strange lacquered paper and a slow perusal of the titles showed an eerie sameness to the letterings. Machined exactness. Years worth of reading lined the new shelves for him here. "Cain will seek what he can not understand to grasp, and Lilith strives to secure that which has already weathered the storm. I have no issues with them in my house but they'll never be easy guests." he ran a claw delicately over a large leather bound book decorated heavily in gold and filigree. "The Holy Bible. This is the tome that men find so fascinating?"
Ladynero: "Yes. I thought you might get a laugh out of the hypocrisy it contains as well as the joke of our names," Abel remarked with a shy smile. "There are volumes here that none can read any more." He gestured towards one bookcase. "Those are in the lost languages of the Middle and Far East, but if any can make them tell their secrets, it is you." He glanced a bit nervously at Sydney. "I hope you don't think it too forward of me, but I claimed one of the rooms here for my own."
Pegunicent: "If you are comfortable in the company of ghosts, why should I mind where you lay your head to rest? Seth is as welcome as you to a place here if she desires. Cain and Lilith..." He trailed off and shrugged giving Abel a weary smile. "The Dark may be malevolent, but it has a way of making known those it does not favor."
Ladynero: "Seth has decided to continue learning about medicine with the three doctors that moved in about three streets over. They're working on that artificial blood while teaching Seth their trade." Abel smiled a bit shy at Sydney. "And there are no ghosts here. Only friends."
Pegunicent: He had to grin back. "Friendly ghosts then. I'm glad for Seth, the Lady knows I do not understand yet all this science and numbers. I have no gift for formulae."
Ladynero: Abel smiled and pointed at another set of bookcases. "The science books are there," he offered before shrugging. "She is happy and that is what matters."
Pegunicent: "It is. And you? I can not imagine acting as mayor for a burgeoning town can be anything but stressful and tiring." He studied Abel carefully, knowing all to well that being a Lord was nothing 'fun'.
Ladynero: He nodded. "It is, but someone had to do it," he pointed out, logically. "The humans wouldn't understand and neither would the vampires. But that is why the Cathedral is only open so long. About once a day, I take a walk through Lea Monde to check up on everything unless the weather's bad, and the rest of the time, I've been working my way slowly through your books." He shrugged.
Pegunicent: "And I have left it all on your shoulders." He sighed. "I should have foreseen someone would misconstrue things. I have opened Lea Monde to those that wish to live here and that I do not regret but I should have a talk with some one and get things straightened out before it goes to far. The last thing we need is them deciding to put me in charge of the mess. They need to take care of *themselves*." He paused and frowned a bit in thought. "Or those with any talent setting off the latent spell songs and mucking about with magics they don't understand." He snorted. "I always knew I would one day rue being a Lord. The farmers only have to worry about their crops."
Ladynero: "I'll be happy to show you what I have done so far," offered Abel. "I confess that everything I'm doing I read about in one of your books and adjusted as needed. Such as for taxes. It's only been a month and I thought taxes based on income instead of a flat tax on land would be more beneficial so those that could pay more do to support those that can't."
Pegunicent: "Taxes already?" He blinked. "I can hardly imagine that many people have much to *be* taxed on yet." He tapped a claw against his arm as he thought. "It must take time to set up any shops or sow fields, even herds would be rangy..." he grimaced. "I knew I forgot something. Herd land. Probably all gone to weeds and rock now. I know there used to be something for horses along the Eastern side of the island..."
Ladynero: "Most of the farms and herd lands are on the mainland with the farmers wiling to bring their produce across the bridge to sell. And I'm not taxing them *yet*, just getting everything set up and into place so that they can be taxed when needed," Abel pointed out. He waved Sydney over to a table and opened his Town Ledger on it, unfolding a hand drawn map of Lea Monde. "Here's what I have so far. The buildings with numbers on them are those that are occupied. The numbers correspond with this list that indicates who lives there and if it's a shop or a home." He gestured to a page in the ledger.
Pegunicent: He puzzled over the map, claw tracing the air over the page as he studied it. Almost a third of the homes were numbered. Was Lea Monde truly a beacon for refuges? "Have you any idea what goods each shop produces? I recall that many homes doubled as such, especially the ones with gardens. Some families sold food from their kitchens and then spent the coin on what they could not grow."
Ladynero: He nodded and pointed to a third column. "This indicates what the shop is, be it clothes, food, stationary, or whatever. Some of them that aren't shops are homes for those that work in the shops. We even have an herbalist midwife who brought what she could salvage from her garden with her." He tapped a home on the main street. "This is her place here."
Pegunicent: He hummed, head tilting a little to the side. He vaguely recalled that area of the city was dedicated to the stasis songs. Mending, holding and healing. A good placement. Some of the others he wasn't so certain of. "Do you think the smithy would mind his family and forge being relocated over here?" He pointed a more southernly spot, closer to the cavern entrances and a natural spring.
Ladynero: "He shouldn't. He was in here the other day asking if there was anyway he could take over the building behind him for his smithy. I told him to give me a couple of days to find out if anyone wanted the house. I'll suggest that area when he comes back." Abel pulled out a pencil and small notebook, making a note of the suggestion before looking up at Sydney. "Any other suggestions?"
Pegunicent: "Let me look this over a bit more and walk about tonight and I'll be better able to advise..." he murmured eyes narrowing in thought. "I hate shuffling people about if it can be helped." Abel's notes were good, thorough but lacking in a few areas he couldn't be expected to know. Like the level of innate sensitivity in a person's heart. "So far nothing looks dangerous, just a few souls might need... shifting... to be entirely comfortable. Or for the city to be comfortable with them."
Ladynero: He nodded. "I let people pick where they might be comfortable," he confessed. "And none of the streets are named because I didn't know what the original names were."
Pegunicent: "The streets bear no names. In the time when Lea Monde thrived, there was no need for them. We were a close community, and everyone was... attuned. You couldn't get lost, the spell songs always showed the way. Which is why I worry now, the songs slept, and are waking. Some areas are more... specialized... than others." He chose his words carefully, out of habit more than a need for discretion. He'd never felt comfortable discussing the workings of the Great Gray City, even with his own father.
Ladynero: "Spell songs?" He looked at Sydney. "Are they the strange carvings in the houses?"
Pegunicent: "Mhmm. They are everywhere. And some serve different purposes than others." He confirmed. "If you look closely you will see they mark every stone, every brick, some so small as too not be seen without aid."
Ladynero: "Is it difficult to learn their language to read them?" he inquired, turning to lean back against the table next to Sydney. "I don't presume to believe I might be able to do anything with your flavor of magic."
Pegunicent: Sydney blinked and shrugged. "I can teach you if you wish. The language is called Kildean, and was ancient before I was born. The words themselves only mean so much, it's the intent behind them that grants one power." He struggled to find the right words. "The songs are... like prayers I suppose. Your heart is what speaks to them."
Ladynero: He tilted his head, turning that over in his mind. "Is it similar to talking to the Dark or Mullenkamp? Or is it a bit more concentration?"
Pegunicent: Sydney grinned. It was so pleasant speaking to one with a quick mind and few prejudices. "The spell songs take no foreknowledge at all to use, which is what makes them handy, and yet dangerous. You don't have to understand them to use them, or *mean* to use them to set one off on accident. Though the second is a rarer occurrence." his eyes turned serious. "The Dark is not to be taken lightly. Or at all. Those who seek to control the Dark are doomed to be consumed by it."
Ladynero: He shook his head. "Something like the Dark can't be controlled, only talked to nicely," he pointed out wryly. "I never plan to try and control something that powerful. If Cain is foolish enough to try to control the Dark, then I won't shed a tear for whatever happens to him."
Pegunicent: Shaking his head he had to lay a careful hand on Abel's shoulder. "Ambitious and young he may be, but he is still your brother. If all who were young and ambitious died of it, there would be no sentient races left at all. Give him time to understand there is more to life and the world than power." His eyes were sympathetic. "Brothers can not be replaced, not with all the power in the world."
Ladynero: "I can't promise anything, because to do so would be lying to both of us," Abel confessed, looking at Sydney's gray eyes with his blue. "Seth is more of a sibling than Cain is right now. She might not bear the same genetic structure as Cain and I do, but she is much closer to me than he is. I only hope you are right and I might bet to know him later, once he has matured."
Pegunicent: Well, he supposed he would have to accept that. "Maybe it would help speed up the process, if I showed him what happened to the last fool who sought to rule the Dark?"
Ladynero: "Either that or he would be arrogant enough to believe it couldn't happen to him since he is different, stronger, more focused, whatever else he's telling himself." He straightened and brushed a kiss across Sydney's cheek. "Thank you for worrying about me and the other Crusniks."
Pegunicent: "I see too much of the past repeating itself needlessly." he sighed, giving Abel's shoulder a gentle squeeze and blinking in surprise at the kiss. He wasn't... quiet sure how to take that gesture.
Ladynero: Abel frowned a bit confused. "Isn't that the correct gesture to thank a friend? The people here seem to do it a lot, especially among family members, but also between friends of both sexes."
Pegunicent: He coughed and stepped back, a faint tinge of pink on his cheeks. "Well. Perhaps in this age. I'm sure things have changed with time. Everything you have done is more than enough thanks, truly."
Ladynero: He nodded. "Do you fly?"
Pegunicent: He blinked at the abrupt subject change. "Only when I need to induce some drama into a situation, as a habit no. I like my feet, or what is left of them, touching the earth."
Ladynero: "Oh. I thought you might like a quick flight to see how your city is doing," offered Abel. He and the other Crusniks weren't hiding what they were any longer.
Pegunicent: "I imagine I can see it better from the street." he replied wryly. "Regardless of moronic misconception, I am *not* an angel, nor am I of a race that tends to include wings."
Ladynero: "But I do have wings," he pointed out with a dismissive shrug. "That's how I got the map drawn the first time and then refined it on the ground."
Pegunicent: "What I *mean*," He replied with a smirk. "Is that while *flight* is perfectly acceptable when called for, my *vision* is rather limited in comparison to yours, especially at night."
Ladynero: "Oh. I'm sorry for misunderstanding."
Pegunicent: He laughed quietly. "It seems you forget I'm dead, not omnipotent. It's alright. I should take it as my due for flaunting magic about so much."
Ladynero: He shook his head. "No, I just forget that not everyone has the same abilities as I do even in this form," he remarked.
Pegunicent: "A perfectly understandable failing. It happens to everyone at some point, or so I'm given to understanding." He looked at the map again and nodded. "Yes, I think there's a better place for our smith. Ashley was the last to use the old workshop, but it should still be serviceable." He was rather proud his tone didn't change at Riot's given name.
Ladynero: Abel nodded before grinning. "How do you plan on dealing with your adoring public?" he inquired, sweetly, flipping the other ledger open to reveal a *large* number at the bottom of the latest column. "You generous and loving public."
Pegunicent: He scowled. "I don't suppose it would be politically correct to set them on fire."
Ladynero: He shook his head, still grinning. "I'm tempted to donate some of the gaudier jewelry to any jeweler and silversmith that sets up shop here. Give them something to practice on."
Pegunicent: His claws curled around his arms, the silver ringing hollowly. "First I will address this 'Pope' and have him recant his idiocy, then I will find whoever is in charge of the Vampires and set them straight." He paused as a thought struck him. "As you sort out things, set aside the silver and steel. There is something... something I'd like to bring back."
Ladynero: "The silver is in one corner of the room and the steel in the other," Abel reported with a small grin. "Silver is a poison to vampires and I wasn't sure if you wanted the smith to remake some of the steel into something more useful." He pulled out a map of the known world and pointed to Rome. "Here's where the Pope is. He resides in the Vatican, the Capitol of the Catholic Church. I haven't heard anything about leaders of the vampires so I'm no help there."
Pegunicent: He humphed. "Of course. I don't suppose you know your way around this 'Vatican'? Or should I just resort to asking the Dark for directions to the sanctimonious ass?"
Ladynero: Abel frowned before moving over to one of the bookcases full of large coffee table picture books. He grabbed one and pulled it down. "Thought I remember seeing this." He brought it back over to the table. "Back in the Twenty First Century, someone put together a photo documentary of the Vatican."
Pegunicent: He peered at the book, eyes widening at the pictures. Such clarity and detail! These portraits and still lives put many of the master painters to shame. "I've never seen such finely rendered pictures."
Ladynero: "The person used a device called a camera to capture the images. Like taking an instant painting of what your eyes see," Abel remarked, waving a hand at the pictures. "The pictures are actually called photographs or photos for short. Since this is a group of photos used to explain about the Vatican, it's called a photo documentary. They were quite popular to bring foreign countries and cultures to someone's home."
Pegunicent: "How fascinating." He bent over the pages, one claw drifting ever so lightly over the pictures, noting the weight of stone buildings, fantastic sculptures, and of course, the Cathedral. "It is not so different, this Vatican, from what I know. Younger, more... artistic in some respects. The gardens and fountains are beautiful, rather than useful."
Ladynero: "From what I know of the Vatican, it's the Inquisition that you might have trouble with," Abel offered. "They were the Vatican's soldiers and were a fearsome bunch." He waved a hand towards the history section. "At least their current reincarnation is."
Pegunicent: He merely arched a brow at Abel, a tiny smirk curling his lips.
Ladynero: "Back during what was referred to as the Dark Ages, they tortured people to convert them to Christianity and save their souls if they were thought to be witches," Abel explained with a shrug.
Pegunicent: "I am familiar with the type. We knew them as the VKP." he grimaced and flicked a claw dismissively. "Worms are worms, whatever their vestments."
Ladynero: "But you're dead and a Prophet. They can't touch you if you don't want them to, right?" His smile was innocent despite his laughing eyes."
Pegunicent: His purr was velvety satisfaction. "Precisely."
Ladynero: He smiled and patted Sydney's shoulder. "Let's go see if there's enough silver and steel for whatever you wish to bring back."
Pegunicent: He grinned. A shiver of anticipation and apprehension flittering through him. This... was purely selfish. An indulgence. But he didn't get the feeling the Dark disapproved. After all, it wasn't like he intended to use the thing. He just wanted... a reminder. Something to hold onto.
Ladynero: He lead Sydney down to one of the rooms and opened it to reveal a huge mass of silver piled in the far corner while an equally large mass of steel was in the closest corner next to the door. Both looked like strange animals that were trying to take over the room and were at least six feet tall. Abel shrugged. "The Gold and Jewel Room is just as bad as this one."
Pegunicent: "Oh for Iocus's sake. This is preposterous." He cried, flinging his arms up in the air. Stalking through the room he glared at the piles. "I know Princes in the Sand Sea's poorer than this. Or I did. They're all rust and dust now."
Ladynero: "This is people getting into their stockpiles and trying to buy your favor," drawled Abel, wandering over to pick up a silver coronet almost coated in gaudy jewels. Smirking he plopped it on his head at an angle. "This was one of the things I was tempted to hand a silversmith and jeweler when they arrive."
Pegunicent: He sneered. "Oh please. Anything to rid the world of that monstrosity. You know, if they *really* thought I was some divine being, they'd know *better* than to attempt bribery."
Ladynero: Chuckling, Abel pulled it off his head and tossed it back onto the pile with a casual flick of his hand. "Ah, but what divine being doesn't enjoy the flattery of attention and pretty things."
Pegunicent: "I enjoy my solitude." he sniffed. He started with the steel. "No Damascus. That's the first step." He was not as gifted as Ashley had been, but refining the raw steel at least took care of a great amount of it.
Ladynero: He moved off to one side, watching with curiosity as Sydney worked. It was always a delight to watch him do whatever he had decided to do with his powers.
Pegunicent: The steel folded and melted and folded again into a glimmering ribbon. Holding the molten metal with part of his attention, he reached for the silver, careless of whatever previous form it had. Like mercury, it flowed together until he had enough, and only then did he combine both metals into an alloy. The final shape was of a seven bladed sword, reminiscent of his Rood. "I'm sorry Riot, I can't let you go completely."
Ladynero: "It's lovely," Abel murmured, staring at the blade. "It looks like your brand." He tilted his head. "Whomever used it must have been a great swordsman to wield something so large."
Pegunicent: "He was. He was my heir." Sydney murmured, drinking in the sight of the blade. "Even now I don't know if he knew what he was making, or if he did it on purpose as mockery."
Ladynero: "Where would you like to keep it? I'll take care of it when you're not here," offered Abel, knowing that this was something special to Sydney.
Pegunicent: "There really isn't a proper place for this." He sighed. "It never really belonged to me. Neither did it's master, more the pity." He stroked the bare, unadorned hilt. "But if he doesn't mind me keeping it a while, the atrium will serve."
Ladynero: He nodded and carefully picked up the blade before looking at Sydney. "You show me where and I'll bring it."
Pegunicent: He nodded, arms curling around himself. "This way." The atrium was whole, and grand, and achingly empty in it's own way. Except for the stained glass and the Rood mosaic on the floor, the room was bare of all furnishings. It was a place of introspection, and prayer and memory. "Here." he said, standing at the intersecting points of the mosaic's blades.
Ladynero: Abel carried it over and turned the sword so the bare hilt was on the floor, resting where Sydney indicated.
Pegunicent: "Thank you." A whisper of power, and a circle inscribed itself on the floor in blue lettering, the spell song settled into the stone, humming through the blade and supporting it on little whispers of air.
Ladynero: He moved back once he was sure Sydney's spell had it and moved to stand next to him, staring at the blade. "He was a friend as well as your heir, wasn't he?"
Pegunicent: Sydney shook his head. "No. No he wasn't. But... he could have been. I hope."
Ladynero: He nodded. "It is still a fitting tribute to him."
Pegunicent: Sydney quirked a grin. "Doubtless he'd scowl at me for it. He was the pragmatic sort. A downright *awful* mage."
Ladynero: He grinned. "If he carried something like that around, he probably focused more on sword work than magic."
Pegunicent: "He did." Sydney frowned in memory. "And that was what made him perfect. Even if he hated me for giving him that which he never wanted or asked for."
Ladynero: "I am sorry he hated you for doing what you thought was right."
Pegunicent: Sydney's smile was bittersweet. "We are all of us monsters."
Ladynero: "The people who hate us call us monsters and demons. Those that love us call us angels and saints. Frankly, I just want to be thought of as normal," snorted Abel, watching the colored light from the windows play off the blade.
Pegunicent: He shook his head slightly. "I'm afraid that is something beyond my power to grant. But I accept you as you are, and hope that eases the rest."
Ladynero: "You and Seth I am coming to learn are the only ones whose opinions matter," Abel remarked, offering him a smile. "Perhaps Cain if he learns to grow up."
Pegunicent: He returned the smile with one of his own. "Give him time. It is the one thing that costs us nothing to provide."
Ladynero: He nodded and rested his hand on Sydney's shoulder. "And one thing we have in abundance."