Why don't ye have a seat? Yer lookin' kinda worn out.
Who: Zaira, Amrothos What: Amrothos comes to visit! When: After the last Zaira log, probably the day before the Incident. Note: part 1 of 2, since the log was too long and broke IJ
Zaira: *curled up in her inn room, staring at records and her log book* *has a cup of tea nearby, and some food, and is ignoring both*
Amrothos: *knocks on her door* Zaira? You inside?
Zaira: *looks up from her log books* Yar, I'm in ... door's open, boy, c'mon in.
Amrothos: *opens the door and comes on in. Has a nice hefty-looking package with him* I found you those herbs you were asking after. How are you feeling? *looks a bit under the weather himself, hasn't felt the best since the knight party*
Zaira: *squints at him* Thank ye very much for gettin' the herbs for me.... Why don't ye have a seat? Yer lookin' kinda worn out.
Amrothos: Can I get a kettle started for you, at leats? *glancing at her tray of food* Looks like you've barely touched your tea, it must be cold by now.
Zaira: *blinks over at the tray* ... Feck... fergot that were even there.
Zaira: Yar, guess I'd better at least have some tea, an' these new herbs'd be great t'sip on, if ye don't mind puttin' the kettle on.
Amrothos: *kindly* shall I call for a new meal? I'm hungry enough to eat the cold one. *goes over to the hearth to set the kettle over the fire*
Zaira: *shakes her head* Nar, that's alright. *closes up her log book and watches him put the kettle on* Not really hungry, meself, but if ye want t'call up a meal fer yerself, go 'head and do it.
Amrothos: well you've got some food on the tray, there, with your tea, maybe I'll just take that. *tosses the contents of her teacup out the window so he can put new tea in it soon, then sits down by her and takes her tray to eat whatever's on it.* I heard you've been having a rough time of it.
Zaira: *runs a hand through her hair* Ziran told me that she sent ye a letter. I think she's tired o'thinkin' she needs t'babysit my arse.
Amrothos: why don't you come stay in my father's guest house? There's always somebody around who could check in on you and we have the finest food and care one can get in this city. My father could even have a healer sent to visit you there if you wished. We've plenty of rooms.
Zaira: *eyes him* 'cause .... I don't know. It feels like givin' in, somehow. Stayin' with you lot would be like lettin' the world know that I can't handle this on me own... and maybe I can't... but at least I'm not admittin' it so everyone can hear it jes' yet.
Amrothos: It's not defeat, Zaira, we're GLAD to help you. We WANT to help. *spoken between cramming bits of toast into his gullet. >.>.* And just because you CAN do this on your own, maybe, doesn't mean you HAVE to.
Zaira: *rubs at her face* Yer all not gonna be there for me entire life, or me girl's entire life... can't learn t'depend on yer family like that.... feck... I'm nothin' special, anyway, I'm just a feckin' sea captain what happens to have good friends. I know ye want t'help, I jes'... ... 'sides, not sure ye can help me with this.
Amrothos: Where do you think I'm going to go, Zaira? I haven't got a ship and that's not going to change any time soon. Even if it did I don't abandon my friends. No matter what's going on. *gently, but firmly* why don't you tell me what's bothering you lately?
Zaira: ... *pokes at her logbook* Been havin' dreams lately...
Amrothos: *softly* Ziran wrote but was not very clear. You're seeing Ecthelden?
Zaira: I'm not just seein' him...
Zaira: .... I've made love to 'im, in the dreams. Kissed 'im. Argued with 'im. Cried.... made 'im pinch me t'make sure he was really there.... I've seen me unborn baby.... felt th'pain from th'cut they had t'make to get her OUT..
Zaira: *blushes a bit, at how personal this all sounds, and adds* I know what feedin' a baby feels like, an'I never HAD one afore...
Amrothos: ...I think your child is still inside you, Zaira. *sort of... staring at her stomach, well, just try not to look at her face, doesn't want to think about her having sex*
Zaira: I know she is... but in me dreams.. she's born, an'I'm nearly dead, an'he's there, an'it feels like things're goin' t'be okay, e'en if it were really close fer a while, an'.... he's there...
Amrothos: *sets the tray aside, and comes closer to her, sitting by her feet. He takes her hand and looks up at her reassuringly* They're just dreams, Zaira. It's not real. You've got a long way to go before your child is born.
Zaira: *shakes her head* No one seems t'be understandin'....
Zaira: Yer here, sittin' in front o'me, touchin' me hand, an'I'm supposed t'believe yer really here, yar?
Amrothos: I'd like you to believe it, yes, as I am here, with my ass parked on the not-so-comfortable floor.
Zaira: ..... An'that's exactly what they're like.
Zaira: Th'dreams. They're .... like slippin' into another, real world, that exists, somewhere.....
Amrothos: *beginning to see what's going on* ...Zaira, listen to yourself. There's not more than one world out there. I know your dreams feel real. But you live here, and while I know life has been less than ideal, no amount of love will bring Ecthelden back to see your child being born. I'm sorry, I really am, but no dream, however wonderful, however real it seems, can take the place of the things you need to do in the here and now.
Amrothos: But even imagining there were two worlds and by sleeping you visited the other... if all you ever did was sleep, you'd die. You've got things to live for, Zaira, things to live for HERE.
Zaira: I know that! *snaps* *then sighs, and squeezes her eyes shut* An'I know I sound feckin' insane most o'thetime, but..... feck if it weren' the most real thing, ever.... An'every time I dream 'bout him, I ask 'im to pinch me... 'er do somethin' else, somethin' t'prove t'me that he's really there, that THIS life was th'dream instead, an'he does... an'then I just end up right .. feckin'.... back 'ere......
Amrothos: I understand it's hard, Zaira. But when we're... when we've been through experiences like you have, sometimes we just want things to be better than they really are. It's a natural thing. But you can't stay in your dreams. Think of it this way, Zaira, if you dreamed me here now, wouldn't I be trying to help you wake up? You know I'll never lie to you, Zaira, not even in your dreams.
Zaira: *blinks her eyes a bit, and chews her lip* *is starting to look particularly forlorn, as well as defeated* .... Be jes' as happy if I ne'er dreamed at all.... .... don' want t'.. keep goin' through this. S'like danglin' somethin' in front o'me what I want more'n anything in th'entire feckin' world, an'then remindin' me I can't... have it... e'er again...
Amrothos: *squeezes her hand* I know, Zaira, I know. *pauses* ...I've got something that maybe will help you though. *reaches under his shirt collar and pulls up a necklace, a bright blue stone like lapis lazuli hanging on a silver chain* When I was little, very small, I had terrible dreams at night. So my mother gave me this, and told me it would protect me as I slept.
Zaira: *reaches a finger out towards the stone on the necklace, and taps it lightly* That's beautiful....
Amrothos: *takes it off and offers it to her* ...you need it more than I do.
Zaira: *wrinkles her brow* I ... really shouldn't be takin' things o'yers.... specially things like this... know yer mam probably means a lot to 'ye...
Amrothos: *patiently, but firmly* Zaira. I WANT you to have it, and so would she. I have other things of my mother's, but this necklace has brought me good dreams and kept the bad ones away, and I know it will help you know waking from dreaming.
Zaira: *lets out a bit of a sigh, and gives in, reaching out for it and taking it in her hands* Th'stone's.. very pretty, an'kind o'cool t'the touch.
Amrothos: It'll be good for you, Zaira. Don't be afraid to wear it. *gets up to check on the kettle, and pour Zaira a cup of southern tea*
Zaira: *puts it on right now, in fact, to get used to the weight of the stone on her chest* *looks at least mildly relieved to have some kind of protection against the bad dreams, however form it took* *sniffs the air lightly, and smiles* Smells like me gran'ma's tea.
Amrothos: I admit I don't know much about your family. *stirs the loos leaves in the cup slightly as he brings it back over to her*
Zaira: *shrugs* That's prolly owin' to th'fact that most of 'em are dead. *takes the cup gratefully in her hands, and sniffs at it again*
Zaira: *lets the tea steep a bit* Ye've got me gran'da... an'that's it.
Amrothos: *nods his head after a moment*
Zaira: *smiles at him* Gran'ma died when I were.... 15 er so?
Zaira: Mam I ne'er met... birthin' ain't th'easiest thing in my family... 'Da, 'course, died jes' recently....
Zaira: *squints into her teacup to avoid his eyes, and... well, actually, the spinning leaves are kind of fun to watch, too* Swear on Ulmo's precious feckin' sea that nothin's e'er gonna kill me gran'da though.
Amrothos: *laughs* Some people just have it in them to live until they don't want to anymore. My grandfather was like that. A mountain of a man, with a moustache to match, and he just... the day he died, we found him under a tree at the highest point in the garden, looking out over the city. My father said he chose the place and time.
Zaira: I 'eard it were possible t'do that... somewhere... *nods her head* Prolly happen with me gran'da, too. Find 'im up in th'riggin' one day, 'cause that's where he liked t'be most.
Zaira: *fidgets with the new necklace, then finally takes a nice, long sip of her tea* *lets out a happy sigh* That's th'good stuff, it is....
Amrothos: *laughs, and pats her arm* I can get more of it, if you run out.
Zaira: *takes his hand and squeezes it* Amro... thanks.
Amrothos: *blinks a moment as if he hadn't expected her thanks* You're welcome.
Zaira: *wraps an arm around his waist, and hugs... his leg, I guess, since he's standing next to her*
Amrothos: *hugs her gently from that... somewhat awkward position before kneeling next to her, and looking over the arm of her chair, so their faces are level* ...now what was that for? What're you thinking of?
Zaira: *tilts her head* Friends can't hug eachother? *chuckles lightly, and looks at him* Maybe I'm jes' really feckin' thankful fer all o'yer help..
Amrothos: I feel like I haven't helped enough. There must be more I can do. *reaches over and brushes a bit of hair out of her face*
Zaira: *somewhat cautiously reaches out and brushes a finger down his face .... perhaps tracing the scar there* *kisses him in the cheek* There's nothin' more ye can do, boy. But I'm grateful fer what ye've done... that's certain.
Amrothos: *leans foreward and kisses the top of Zaira's head, which coming from him is a merely friendly gesture* Sure I can't call in for some food for you?
Zaira: .... m'sure... *nods her head, goes back to focusing on her teacup* *yes, teacup good... pets the teacup*
Amrothos: *rub her knee lightly, then stands up* Can I bring you a book from the library or something, to pass the time while you're stuck in here? Of course I'll stay as long as you want, and visit as often as you like. *can kind of tell Zaira is semi-avoiding him now*
Zaira: *just isn't sure what just happened there, and why she wishes it'd been his lips instead of his cheek ><* *doesn't need that kind of aggrivation right now, especially since he's just a friend* *looks up at him though, and smiles* Visitin' often'd be good... Company other'n Ziran's nice.... not that Ziran's bad to have 'round, but I think e'en she needs a break from babysittin' me, yar? *chuckles at that* I'll prolly be up an'about soon, anyways, but ... still.
Amrothos: *laughs* I'll bring you a nice book on sailing next time I come. Shall I come tomorrow?
Zaira: *nods her head, and smiles, a bit more genuinely* I'd like that, yar. Maybe I can e'en sound less crazy then, too.
Zaira: *gets up out of her chair, and walks over to him* .... Seriously.... ... had some things I wanted t'talk about, not sure if I'm up t'it today, but... Come back tomorrow?