OOC: This is part of The Dessert Table (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15587.msg156752#msg156752). Please read the rules of the table if you wish to join! Thanks!
Also this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM31uaet7YY) by Alter Bridge always makes me thing of the epic things Leif does! and his dramas!
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The white wisps of smoke from his cigar wafted up from the tip's burning ash as the man leaned against the great stone wall that swept around the gardens in a massive frame. Vines crawled along the edges of it, and nightblooms were beginning to awaken, and the sky- already turning violet, was awaiting the night. The stars had come out, peeping out from behind a few thin clouds that were capped in gold light from the setting sun.
His own form was drafted in the same color, and long shadows stretched across the way, one of them hiding Leif Arrant from sight. The garden, although not entirely abandoned, offered a nice place of solace for the brooding man; for he had a lot to consider that night.
Much has happened in his life since he had dawned a real mask to become his alter ego: The Masked Mordecai. But even still, as he wore a different mask today, his brooding expression seemed open to the world. He felt as cold as his costume, which was a decadent display of pillows of silver sparkles and white. He and his wife, Lady Valentina, had come as a pair- the Snow King and Queen, and even his hair was painted in a white frosting and glittering in silver, to represent snow. His skin was also powdered over, his lips painted blue, and his insides now curdling into knots.
It had been some time since he had become married, and since he had been recovering from his wounds when he had attacked the church, and also..... since he had realized who the true identity of his masked partner was and had savedhis sister from the church. But an evil presence was lurking, this much he knew-
but even still, his thoughts could not be torn from how he had been treating his wife as of lately and well....
The fact he never told her he loved her was eating away at him- and tearing him apart, piece by piece. He found a panged tear, prickling the corners of his eyes. No. He would not cry. He angerily flicked some ash aside from his cigar at the very thought of it before steeling back any tears and taking in a long, salty drag.
"I'll be right back," Audric promised his swan-wife with a warm smile as a lone figure caught his eye. Decked out in white and glitter, the man was trying to blend in with a dark wall and failing miserably. It was, actually, pretty comedic.
Of course, Audric knew who the figure was. They had spent enough time in masks together -- and, anyway, he had heard Arrant's wife making introductions earlier. Putting two and two together, he came up with Cai.
"You know what I wanted to come to the party as?" Audric began his tale for the umpteenth time that night. His poor, poor wife. "I thought about coming as a the Masked Mordecai, and I was going to send you a letter suggesting you come as the Shrouded Swordsman. Do you like whiskey?" Here, Audric fished out a flask from somewhere in his outfit and extended it out to his partner in crime expectantly.
(OOC: Just quick posting so no one else steals my intro! *zoom!*)
Leif should have known he couldn't be left alone for long, so when Audric approached, he frowned and turned away from him, answering him simply, "No." About the whisky, and nothing else. He drank it, but it was god awful. And he didn't feel like a drink. Instead, he took in another drag and asked, "Why would you want to be a masked person at a masked ball. I heard they killed the masked mordecai. The news is all over the city."
Especially since he hadn't shown his face since the burning of the church....
"Oh?" Audric answered, surprise registering on his face. "That's news to me..." He was watching the other man, curious to know if it truly was as final as all that...
Instead of asking, however, he asked simply, "How is she?"
Leif would obviously know whom he meant!
At the sudden prick to the knife that was jabbing him in the heart, he glanced away. He kept his eyes on the garden grasses but said nothing. Anything he said would make him sound like an ass...
Or desperate.
And he was both.
Audric's expression softened into a frown. He had a knack for reading people like Leif -- Calent had given him plenty of practice, after all, so, instead of prying, he simply sank into a crouch against the wall to wait.
He'd say something. Eventually.
After a while, Leif contemplated the meaning of 'she'. Was he here to check on Attie or his wife? Surely Audric could't have known about his relation with his wife...
Picking up his gaze, he peered over at Audric. "Attie's alright. She's been mending well."
Audric nodded slightly, his concern apparent. "How are her nightmares?" An event like this was certainly not something one would get over quickly... Her body would heal more quickly than her emotional scars.
"If you ever need a place to stay, either of you, you know my door's always open." He glanced in the direction he had left his wife, then adding, "Nera doesn't know." So they might want to avoid telling her... But his lodges! Yes, those were always open to them!
Leif frowned at the idea of Audric's wife and simply replied, "Valentina doesn't know either..."
And he frowned as he thought over Audric's words.
"I don't think I'll need to use the offer, but thanks."
Audric nodded slightly, taking a sip from his flask before tucking it away again. He thought it gave his outfit a hint of style -- and, besides, his flask was marginally bigger than the wine glasses!
"So, what are you doing out here all alone? Not a fan of parties?"
Leif shot Audric a glare. His reputation was someone that loathed parties. What was his game? So instead of obliging him with an answer, he put his cigar back to his lips and breathed in, before releasing the smoke through his nostrils.
Audric shrugged slightly, again, not really all that surprised as he leaned comfortably against the wall. He was more of a social man himself, but...
These definitely weren't his type of party.
Exhaling softly, he turned his eyes skywards, searching the stars in the heavens in peaceful silence. He couldn't have put a name to it if he was asked to, but there was a heavy feeling around Arrant...which was interesting, given black clouds seemed to follow him around on a daily basis. But there was something else, something Audric felt obliged to address.
But if Leif were anything like Calent -- and they were, from what Audric knew, a lot alike -- he'd just have to patiently wait the other man out. And wear him down.
Realizing Audric wasn't about to go away, he peered over towards him before he sighed.
"If you must know, I came out here to avoid running into you."
But as soon as he said it, it made him smirk, but only a bit before he stared back down at his boots, the smile fading.
"And no.." he said, rolling his cigar between his fingers. "I never was a fan of balls."
"Well, that sure didn't work," he chuckled out loud. Sitting all alone dressed like, well, that certainly hadn't helped his cause...
"This is the first ball I've ever been invited to." Connlaoth certainly hadn't had many of them in the past few years. And the tea parties and other events he had attended, welll... They weren't balls, were they?
"I pictured it being different. A lot more confined. And a lot more dancing." Calent had hated going to these things, but if they were like this, what was the problem? He could make his appearance, then shut himself up in a room somewhere.
Leif wrinkled his nose.
"I almost forgot, you were new to this sort of thing," he said irritably, then peered over at Audric and his perky persona. "Where's your wife, anyway? Is she becoming that stifling you had to seek me out?"
In other words, he was hoping Audric would recall the wife he just abandoned, feel guilty, and leave the brooding man be.
His question made Audric grin. "She's catching up with some of her friends from school. What about your wife? I saw her earlier, but I'm surprised you're out here alone..."
It did seem odd! But, then, perhaps, that was just Leif's personality again!
"You should go offer her a drink or a dance. Or both."
"The dancing hasn't started," he began to say, and frowned as he looked down at the cigar now held between pinched fingers. "And I doubt she'd want to see me right now." After all.. he had been quite the ass...
Audric's eyebrows lifted a bit beneath his mask, and he frowned. Well, that explained that, didn't it?
"Alright," he said, giving a slight nod. Listening. This was something he could do. "Any particular reason?"
Leif frowned when the subject was pressed, but sighed, because he knew it was eating at him and he did want to get it off his chest. Better Audric than nobody, lest he become ill from it tearing up his very insides.
"We fought." he said, staring at the smoke drifting off his cigar. "I've been.. keeping Valentina inside a lot because of what happened at my wedding..."
Surely, Audric can remember the famed shooting- Leif had nearly been killed- and not by someone that even knew about his masked alter ego! Leif had made quite a spectacle of himself in society in order to spite his parents.. and it angered a lot of rather radical people...
"It's been many years and she... believed she'd be safe. But she won't." He stared down at the floor.
And sadly, where Audric might believe it's becuas eof his masked alter ego..
it was because he knew his wife was a mage.
"Why wouldn't she be safe?" Audric asked, sounding legitimately curious. It had been a number of years ago, after all!
As for women, well, they were something men knew nothing about -- Audric included. He and Nera got along so well that when they weren't getting along, he had no idea how to handle it!
There was a rustle behind them, suddenly, startling Audric into half-rising from his crouch when a girl dropped down from... What? The wall? The tree? He looked up quizzically, then back down to the girl. Flowers, ribbons, and beads were woven into the girl's red hair. A simple dress, the color of an afternoon sky, was all that she wore -- no mask, no gloves, no shoes, no hat... It was old-fashioned -- perhaps some sort of reference to a historical figure? She wore no mask, however...
"Sorry t' interrupt. Joost lookin' fer m' brothers! Ye 'aven't seen 'em, 'ave ye? Bit o' an emergency..." Audric opened his mouth to reply, but she shook her head. "No, nevermin'. I'll 'ave t' fin' 'em m'self. But, tell 'em I'm lookin', will ye? Thanks!"
Without a word more of explanation, the girl dashed off, disappearing inside. Audric's mouth was still slightly open, so he closed it and sank back down beside Cai. The best thing to do in these sorts of situations was to ignore it completely. Yes.
"Well, you can't just leave her locked inside forever, whatever the reason. She's a right to be angry at you."
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Fiona is exiting to Vanilla Pecan Candies (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15622.msg158030#msg158030)
Leif, barely seeming to be phased by Fiona's presence, merely tensed and looked away. He'd rather not deal with anyone, but when the conversation returned, he frowned and tapped some cigar ash aside and said..
"I know.."
"So, what are you going to do?" He mulled the topic over. "Are our wives acquainted? She could come to visit, perhaps..." Nera would look out for her. She was tough and a bit adventurous... She could, by and large, look after herself, so if Leif's wife came to visit, the pair could go do girl things...
Like shopping!
Leif made a face. "And have her figure me out? She knows we are not friends, Audric," he said bitterly. "If she sees us together, the next time, what? She'll see my mask?"
And that would probably be a disaster for both of them...
He frowned as he turned it over thoughtfully.
"What is it you think is going to happen to her, Arrant? Do you think there's someone who would hurt her?"
If he knew more details, maybe he could help!
Leif shifted uncomfortably.
"They would if they knew I was the masked mordecai.." he whispered, staring shamefully at the ground. "If I were ever caught..."
They'd both hang..
(OOC: *impatient wiggles!*)
"That's a reason for you to stay inside, not her." Obviously! "You've got good reason to hang it up, Cai. I wouldn't blame you for that." He doubted anyone could... "What good is saving the world if you lose everyone you love in the process?"
"Yes.. but it's not quite as easy as that..." Leif muttered, shifting comfortably against the garden wall. And he turned to Audric as if he were about to tell him some massive fact, but then said nothing and turned away, and took a quick drag from his cigar instead.
"It never is, is it?" Audric answered with a uncharacteristically serious expression. "I have a meeting set with Calent tomorrow to tell him what we saw. I've been trying to think of the best way to explain it, but..." A corner of his mouth quirked upwards in a slight grin. "Somebody burned the evidence."
"You mean the burning scared them away.." Leif muttered as he looked away. "God damn bastards.." he said, his hand shaking so hard, he dropped his cigar. Sighing, he just stared at it from where it was sifting smoke in the grass before bending over and picking it up.
"So what do you think to accomplish by letting the Grand Duke know what we saw? And how would you explain it? Tell him you're the shrouded swordsman, and I, the masked mordecai?"
Audric laughed at that suggestion, as always, full of good humor. "Believe it or not, there was a time I had dirt on everyone in Connlaoth. I still have a few spies tucked away here and there, Arrant, and I'll just pretend I heard it from one of them."
He paused, then, and had to ask, "You're not already drunk are you?" He indicated the cigar. "Seems terribly unlike you."
Leif placed a hand over his face, as if he might very well be ill.
"I had a few.. but that's not what ails me.. God be damned.." and he turned to punch at the wall, knowing full well it'd hurt like hell before he turned towards it, pressing his forehead to the stone and whispered, "Audric, there is so much tormenting me right now I wish I had a pistol to shoot it right out of me. I feel as if I'm going mad.. So many secrets, so many lies... and all to protect myself and my wife's secret..."
"Maybe you should be," Audric corrected himself, looking over at his friendly worriedly. He wouldn't ask him to divulge those secrets -- that was not the way this friendship worked -- but he said instead, "Why don't we get out of here, Cai? I don't think you're in any shape for this tonight..."
"No, no," he shook off the thought. "I got into a big argument with Valentina. She'd hate me even more if I were to go."
"Maybe the two of you should get out of here together?" Audric suggested after a moment's thought. "Spend some time with her alone. Take her out and talk to her. See if you can't work out a compromise. And, for Angsar's sake, start with an apology and by telling her she was right. Women are impossible to talk to if they're defensive."
He put a hand on his friend's shoulder, trying to be of some comfort.
"You need to work this out with her."
Leif frowned.
"It's not that easy, Audric I... I.. suppose you're right but.. but you don't understand."
And here he lowered his gaze and muttered, "Her and Attie have a lot more in common than you know..."
Audric fixed a stern look on his friend. "You've been beating around the bush all night. Either spill the beans, or fix the problem."
Apparently, he was going to have to give him some tough love!
Leif cringed.
"Audric.." he hesitated then peered up at him, his face pale. "My wife's a mage."
"Oh!" Audric exclaimed staring. His eyes moved downwards, then, and he repeated more softly, "Oh."
Well, that was bad, then, wasn't it...
His hand squeezed his shoulder, and then he smiled bravely. "You need to work it out with her."
"I'm aware of it but... she has no idea how much danger she could be in if she were found out. If I were found out." he shook his head. "And I don't know which is worse. Having her hang because I'm the masked mordecai, or have her taken away to be tortured cause she's a mage."
ANd then he sighed and added gloomily, "and she has no idea I know she can cast magic.. either.."
"Sweet Angsar," Audric murmured, "You've really got yourself in a pickle."
(OOC: And now... We stop for Valentina!)
Valentina just wanted to see her husband. Perhaps she wanted to smooth things over with him, because their last argument was tearing her apart with guilt. But, as she heard two voices, she stopped herself, recognizing one was Leif. He was talking with another man, and she stood far enough for her to hear their words.
She covered her lips with her hands, because if she didn't she felt like she could've screamed. He knew it all about her and he never told her. And, she just couldn't believe how many things she kept from her. She felt dizzy, and wondered how much would she hear if she came earlier. What other dark secrets did he keep away from her?
That was when she realized that he would never believe her, and it somehow made her feel even worse.
Leif had no idea his wife was around, watching and listening in as he drew in a careful breath, then angrily tossed his cigar away.
"Gods... I've made a mess of things. My whole life is messed up. My wife hates me, I can't protect her, I go out at night in my mask and to see Attie.." he shook his head.
"And I treat her no better than my wife. Who am I fooling to try to keep them locked inside, as if birds in cages? But what other choice do I have? Valentina has no idea what happened at the church, nor does she know I saw her, even before hte engagement was accepted- I knew she was a mage and I just... Gods.."
He raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do. I don't know if I can even tell her all of these things." And he blinked is eyes, almost as if he wanted to cry. Yes.. his life really was messed up, and nwo he had all of his eggs in one basket, and they looked about ready to tumble all out.
"Maybe I should just leave this place." he muttered and moved to turn away from Audric. "I' need a drink." And as he turned to leave- he nearly ran into...
"Valentina.." And his entire face went white.
Valentina took a deep shaky breath when he ran into her. No, this was not happening. She shook her head. She was frustrated, angry, sad all at once and she didn't know how to channel it all at once. What was she to do now? A mixture of confused thought ran over her head.
"Leif.." her voice was almost desperate "I can't do this..." she said as a tear traced down her cheek.
She turned around on her heel and left as fast as she could.
Leif felt his entire heart sink into his belly, like a cold stone, weighing him down. ANd it was like slow motion as he watched Valentina run off. His legs, like weights, would not budge as he took but two steps towards her and called out, "VALENTINA!"
And once the reality smashed into him like a glass ball, he rushed after her. He had to do something! He had to explain!
She didn't stop, it was to hard to do that. The gardens were large, and tears smudging her sight weren't helping her to find her way back. She wiped her tears with her hand, like a child, and continued thinking in silence as she entered back to the ball room. She didn't want to talk about it, nor did she want him to say that he is sorry. Actually, Valentina wasn't sure what she needed, but she knew that she had to distract herself before she broke down. And this was not the time nor the place to do that.
Audric rose as well.
Well.
Damn.
The pair went dashing off, and, after a minute, Audric followed. He was worried about Leif -- and the least he could do was what he had always done: watch his back and be there if the other man needed him.
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Following Leif and Valentina to Waltz of the Sugar Plum Candies (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=15643.msg159063#msg159063)