=== Mega Interlude Start ===

- Rachel/Cody -
"Reaching For The Light."

>> The daylight has slowly begun to lose the fight against night's onslaught....Cody Hylissa, still recovering from his epileptic episode in the Dark Palace, sleeps peacefully, almost angelic looking in his bed at the Inn...Chrys has long since gone, leaving nothing but a silence...
>> It hangs over the prone form of Cody like a bird of prey...before the door creaks open softly and a still slightly blood covered Rachel Brodeur sneaks into the room, chasing the silence away with a sigh...
* Rachel closes the door behind her, leaning her back against it as she gazes at Cody's form on the bed....
* Cody is still unconcious, a single blanket over his exposed form, although it seems to have fallen down a bit and is now around his waist, his arms and shoulders still exposed.
<Rachel> ....
* Rachel heads to Cody slowly, unstrapping her sword and laying it on the oaken dresser gently....she hauls up a chair and sits beside Cody's bedside, weariness on her features...she reaches out to tug the blanket up slightly... "....I don't know what to think..."
<Rachel> Keylia once said that a Mana Knight should care about everyone she meets....everyone she talks to and helps...
* Rachel chuckles wryly.. "Back then... I didn't think it would happen, you know that, stud? I mean...honestly....Roric was just obnoxious....and Chrys was so dark...."
<Rachel> I didn't think that she was really foretelling my future...when I would sacrifice myself to save any one of you...even Roric and Chrys....when looking at each of you makes me feel as if I'm home..
<Rachel> ...and I didn't expect that I would grow to care for some of you more than others....
* Rachel rests an elbow against her knee and rests her head in her hand... "I wish I could understand what I need to do... where do I go from here..? Still Kurik's wife...but only by law, not by heart...longing for...someone else...."
<Rachel> ...but to act....it would kill Rahne....I'm certain it's already killing her....
<Rachel> And I never wanted to do that to her...never...
<Rachel> And Chrys....god..... he hates me now, I think...no, I'm certain... I can almost feel it when he looks at me....when he speaks to me...
* Rachel mumbles.. "And you....it's like I can't even help myself....god...kissing you when you're just waking up from a coma....resting against you before a fight...."
* Rachel laughs softly now. "...though at least you don't remember the kiss, huh..? God... you're a great kisser... I bet you're even better when you're awake...."
* Rachel goes quiet and sighs softly..
* Cody doesn't move for a little while, and the room grows opressively quiet. Suddenly, his hand, which was resting agsint his side begins to move.
* Rachel blinks and lifts her head a bit to look at the hand... "...?"
* Cody moans slightly, rasing his hand to his face in confusion, apparently waking up.
* Rachel blinks and straightens up in her chair a bit, wiping the look from her face and replacing it with a cheerful one. "Morning, sleeping beauty."
* Cody opens his eyes slowly, turning towards Rachel, "What...? I...Where am I?"
<Rachel> The Inn....you went into some sort of shaking fit...
<Cody> Shaking...fit?
* Rachel nods. "You passed out. Can we not do that particular experiment again? ^^;
* Cody blinks again, and then suddenly his face is alight with realization, apparently remembering what happened before, "Oh...That's right...I told you to...I grew fur, didn't I? Or I had a seizure and spouted things that are going to embarrass me, didn't I? ^^;
* Rachel blinks and laughs lowly. "Erm, no, you didn't sprout fur...not anywhere I was allowed to see anyway.....no, you just shook violently and passed out...nothing that Chrys or Ror can use to blackmail you." ^^;
<Cody> Strange...I wonder why I did that. I've never had a seizure before...
<Rachel> I'm not sure... but you almost gave us a heart attack.. ^^;
* Cody blushes a little bit, looking a bit guilty, "S...Sorry. I won't do that again."
<Rachel> Hey...it's alright..  ^^; I just figure it can't be good if it makes you shake and pass out like that...
<Cody> Yeah...
* Cody tries to sit up.
* Rachel watches Cody for a moment. "You okay..?"
<Cody> I...I think so...I'm just a little woozy..
<Rachel> ..uhm...I could get you some water...if you wanted...
* Cody manages to keep himself upright, however, and smiles at Rachel, "No, that's all right. Thanks though..." ^^
* Rachel offers Cody an almost meek grin. "Alright...if you say so..."
* Rachel stands and heads for the bathroom, wetting a rag there and walking out to sit back down once more, rubbing the dark red blood off her hands and onto the towel...
* Cody blinks at the blood, "..is that...?"
<Rachel> Mm? Ah....Tori got hit pretty bad....I had to help him back...he's alright now, though...
* Cody nods, twiddling his thumbs, "...How long were you here? Watching me...? I mean..."
<Rachel> Uh....n...not too long. I'm sorry, I was just...worried about you.. I didn't think I should wake you though..
* Cody nods, smiling, "You've always been watching out for me...taking care of me...I appreciate it..."
* Rachel looks down at her hands and the pink rag between them.. "It's nothing.. just being the best friend I can be and all that....."
<Cody> I know...I mean...You make me feel safe, you know? I feel like I can always count on you..
<Rachel> .....well...t...that's great..! I mean, it's always good to feel safe and to feel as if you can count on someone and..
<Rachel> . o O (Woah there, Rache, calm down.)
* Cody looks like he wants to say something but is very embarrassed to. A small blush is forming on his face.
* Rachel clears her throat and looks up at Cody, only to notice his blush... "...something wrong?"
<Cody> Well...This one time you were watching me...I woke up from my coma...and you...Well...
<Rachel> ....I...I...uhm...didn't think...you remembered that...
* Cody nods, "No...I remember...I wasn't thinking all that clearly, but I remember. I was really scared then, because I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what happened to Khyros or if everything was okay...but when you kissed me like that...I..I just felt this peace...and I knew everything was all right."
* Rachel laughs nervously and drums her fingers on the mattress of the bed now, looking at her fingers move. "...yeah....I...uhm..."
* Cody looks embarrassed too, "I...well...I just wanted to say thank you...for everything."
<Rachel> You don't need to thank me... I was just...doing what felt so right...
<Cody> Felt right...?
<Rachel> Yeah...it feels good to be near you...to help you...and...if felt good to....to..
<Rachel> . o O (....Rache...you've flirted with so many people...what the hell?)
* Cody looks down at the matress suddenly, looking sad.
* Rachel glances at Cody and blinks away her embarrassment.. "...what's wrong..?"
<Cody> ...I can't...
<Rachel> Can't what...?
* Cody suddenly turns away, looking down suddenly at the floor, "I just can't...I'm going to...and then you'll be alone. So it's just better if you didn't know me at all..."
* Rachel blinks and reaches out to touch Cody's cheek.. "....everyone dies, Cody. Some do it sooner. Some do it later. And it doesn't matter to me that you're going to die, Cody...you're here...right now....with me. That's what's important....living life while you can...experiencing everything.."
<Cody> How can you say that? When push comes to shove, what will happen to you when I'm gone...?
<Rachel> I'll keep fighting...keep living...until my time comes too... I mean... I don't expect a long life anyway, you know? It comes with the territory that I die in some heroic act....but I'll fight on, Cody...for everyone...for you....especially you.
<Cody> Why me? Because I'm the gemma?
<Rachel> ...because I love you.
* Cody finally turns back to her, looking a little surprised, even though he's heard her say this before. So surprised that he's speechless, actually.
<Rachel> ...I know that I don't deserve you... I mean, I'm used goods....not like Rahne....and I know that I shouldn't feel how I do...because it will hurt some people....but I just...can't...I can't help it...
<Cody> ...You're not used goods...You're important to me...Don't talk about yourself like that...
* Rachel nods just a little and drops her hand to the mattress.. "Sorry...force of habit..."
<Cody> I..I don't know...I know you don't love Kurik...but...
* Rachel sighs and goes back to the task of cleaning her hands, rubbing them with the rag and looking at her hands as she does so.. "....but..?"
<Cody> ...I don't want to be just some...well...fling I guess. Even if you want me to experience things before I die...I want it to be real...I don't want it to end up like June. I'm scared...
<Rachel> So am I.....so am I.....but I don't think you could be a fling to me....I just....I feel...
<Cody> What do you feel...?
* Cody absentmindedly takes up her hand.
* Rachel blinks as the cloth falls to the floor and she looks at Cody's hand holding hers... "...I feel like I need you....hearing your voice makes me want to smile.....being near you makes me shiver with joy....and the feelings are getting stronger...."
<Cody> I feel the same way too....
<Rachel> .....y...you do...?
* Cody nods slowly.
* Rachel exhales a little, as if she's been holding her breath for a very very long time.... ".....wow..."
* Cody blushes a bit, "I...I was just...I didn't want to get close to someone and hten have to leave them. It'd hurt me...but I was afraid...it'd hurt you more..."
<Rachel> I don't think you could ever really leave me, Cody.... we're connected somehow....I can feel you..
<Cody> You can feel me...?
<Cody> I mean... ^^; 
* Rachel blinks and blushes dark red now. "Uh. Not like that. I mean. Uhm."
<Rachel> Err. Emotionally.
<Cody> Oh...! ^^; I was wondering... O_o But...Sometimes I can feel you too. I know when you're feeling angry or hurt...it makes me hurt too...
* Rachel nods just a little.. "Exactly....it's as if we're a part of each other somehow...must be the whole Mana thing..."
<Cody> Did you feel it when we first met...? Or when you got the sword?
<Rachel> I wasn't feeling much the very first time we met....but the second time, yeah.... 
<Cody> I'm still a little guilty abut not knowing what the sword really was. I mean...You could have been roaming the countryside...not in any danger...
* Rachel laughs and looks at Cody in faint amusement.. "I would've never met you. I'd rather take this life than what I left behind...."
<Cody> ...I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from Kurik...But I'll never...I'll never hurt you. I'd rather...
<Rachel> I don't know why...but I believe you...I trust you...
<Cody> I trust you too.
<Cody> I believe in you no matter what.
<Rachel> Good...now hopefully I won't end up getting us all killed..
<Cody> You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You're doing your best.
* Rachel gently taps the back of Cody's hand with a slender finger. "I was kidding...."
<Cody> ...Were you? 
<Cody> Sometimes I notice you take so much responsiblity that it overwhelms you...
<Cody> I can feel it..
<Rachel> ...you're right, of course. I just.....I need to protect you all... I care about everyone so much now.....
<Cody> I do too...I know that i'm more of a burden than anything else right now...I know that I'm supposed to be protected but...sometimes I want to protect everyone too...So that they're safe...
<Rachel> You're never a burden....you're the logic within us.....when most of us are driven by insanity....or anger......you're the voice of reason....
<Rachel> ...and you swing a pretty mean stick.
* Cody blushes, "Erhm... ^^;"
<Cody> I...thank you...
* Rachel murmurs.. "Don't thank me... I'm just the bearer of truth..."
* Cody reaches over and suddenly hugs Rachel gently, "...You're stong, Rachel. You think that you aren't but you are. There's this...fire and passion in you...you have this light....you're so strong and no matter what happens to you, you never give up. You sell yourself short but you shouldn't, because you're...you're..."
<Cody> ...You're such a great person...I don't want that darkness that Kurik imposes on you to swallow up the person I respect and care about so much...
* Rachel inhales softly, breathing in Cody's scent and closes her eyes.. "...it's hard...but...I won't give in....I won't let him win..."
<Cody> He's wrong. He's a mean spirited man who wants to control you...don't let him. Don't ever let him...always know that I'll be here for you. Always.
<Rachel> Cody....
* Cody leans back away from Rachel for a moment, looking at her intensely...
* Rachel swallows hard and looks back at Cody, unsure of what to do or say next..
* Cody leans over and kisses her lips softly...
* Rachel shivers and reaches a hand up to touch Cody's cheek, returning the kiss slowly...
* Cody looks a bit relucant to end it, but slowly pulls away.
<Cody> I...ah... ^^;
* Rachel stares at Cody and gapes for a second. "Uh..."
<Cody> I...I hope that wasn't....I mean...
<Rachel> Uh...uh...no...I mean...uh..that was...really...nice...uhm...wow..
* Rachel starts to blush. ^^;
* Cody blushes too, and coughs. ^^;
<Cody> . o O ( I'm such a pansy. Wow. She's a good kisser. Wow. )
* Rachel reaches out to brush some hair from Cody's eyes.. "...you're really good at that."
<Cody> At kissing? I...ah... ^^;
* Rachel leans forward a bit to brush her lips against Cody's just lightly before leaning away again. "Mm. You sure you're not some romeo come to sweep me off my innocent little feet...?"
* Cody smiles a bit against Rachel's lips before she pulls away, "I'm not really much of a Romeo...Can't you tell? ^^ I get embarrased over every little thing..."
<Rachel> Hey, I'm not much better, stud... ^^; Look at me, stuttering and blushing like I've never even held hands before.. ^^;
<Cody> Well...I don't mind...Being in your company is enough...
* Rachel looks sly suddenly and hops up onto Cody's bed, grinning at him. "Does this mean I can stay for a while longer? Just to talk, of course..."
<Cody> Of course! ^^
<Cody> Is there anything you want to get off your chest?
* Rachel gazes at Cody and gently taps a fingertip on his nose.. "...actually...yeah....what about...well..Rahne..."
<Cody> Oh...
<Cody> What about, exactly?
<Rachel> She...you...I thought you two...I mean...
<Cody> ...I don't know...A part of me will always care for her...but...Now...I want her to be my friend...but she takes things to the extreme, you know? One moment, she wants me to reveal everything about myself to her...she places me as some sort of God, almost. The next, she pulls away so much that she thinks she's inferior...I don't know how to break through...tell her she's just like the rest of us...
* Rachel nods just a little and there is a flash of insecurity on her face for a second before it is replaced with the same warm look... "Yeah....I know.... I think right now is just hard for her....really hard...."
<Cody> We just have to keep being her friend...let her know we care.
<Rachel> I'm just worried, I guess...
<Cody> Me too...
* Cody looks thoughtful, thinking to himself.
* Rachel gazes at Cody, silent now, her arm slowly draping over his waist...
* Cody blinks, smiles, and puts an arm around her shoulder.
* Rachel quickly leans up to kiss his chin before snuggling closer to him. "Luc for your thoughts."
<Cody> Hmm...Wondering which seed we should go after next, actually. Have you given it any thought?
<Rachel> It will probably be the light one...
<Cody> Hmm...Or maybe we should go after Dryad's. I mean...didn't you say you already met her? We have her favor...
* Rachel blinks and remembers the Dryad incident, laughing lowly. "Uh....yes, yes we do...maybe we should go there next, yeah....give the group time to get their strength back..."
<Cody> ...Why are you laughing? ^^;
<Rachel> I don't remember much of meeting Dryad.. ^^; We all got a little...uh....well...high. ^^;
<Cody> High? O_o
<Rachel> See, there were these kids....they were sort of using Dryad as a drug, smoking her leaves...and well....the smell kind of affected us when we went to get her back... ^^;
* Cody thinks about this, and suddenly busts out laughing, "Oh...Oh my."
<Cody> I almost sort of wish I was there...but I'm not sure how I would have acted drugged. Perhaps it was better to be in a coma.
<Rachel> Half naked and in a coma, yeah. ^_- Besides, I heard it got kind of wild. 
* Cody blushes, "I still can't believe I was half...after that talk we had about not seeing me naked either!"
* Rachel laughs lowly and gently pokes Cody's chest. "Hey, I figure it makes up for you interrupting my bath and seeing me exposed..!"
<Cody> Well I didn't mean to! The door was half open! ^^;
<Cody> Okay...slightly ajar...but I didn't know!
<Rachel> Voyeur! ;)
* Cody looks meek, "I'm sorry?"
* Rachel looks at Cody's expression and hugs him closer, smiling wryly. "You can make it up to me sometime. Don't sweat it."
* Cody grins a bit, "Understood. ^_-"
* Cody hmms and looks out the window, "Rachel...What time is it?"
* Rachel blinks a little and snaps out of her Cody induced haze, looking at the window.. "Late...most of the group already ate their evening meal..."
<Cody> ...No wonder I'm hungry... ^^;
<Cody> Did you have anything? Maybe I should get up and go look for something to eat...
* Rachel 's stomach gurgles, betraying her and she looks down at the bared flesh accusingly. "No, I didn't. We could go downstairs to the bar...they're probably serving something there..."
<Cody> That's fine. ^_^
<Rachel> I guess that would require me moving, huh? ^_-
<Cody> Yeah...me too ^^;
* Cody tries to get out of bed, still a bit tired.
* Rachel watches Cody, just laying there for a moment...she sits up and hops off the bed, reaching out to help Cody out. ^^
* Cody takes her hand and hauls himself up, "Thanks." ^^
<Rachel> Not a problem, oh studly and handsome. ^_- 
* Cody takes Rachel's hand, "Anytime, M'lady. ^^"
* Rachel squeezes the hand and tugs Cody along gently to the door, grabbing her sword with a hand on the way out... ^^ "Right...now...let's go find something to eat, huh? Preferably something completely dead and cooked..."
<Cody> ...Well I certainly hope so! ^^
* Cody laughs and heads outside. ^^
<Cody> You coming, Rachel? 
* Cody stops at the door, extending a hand to her.
* Rachel blinks and nods slowly, grasping his hand tightly but gently.. "Right...and Cody...?"
<Cody> Yes?
* Rachel hauls herself close to him, smiling like an imp before kissing him deeply....she tugs away, still holding his hand and looks at him. "I love you.....and I must say, you've got the nicest ass I've ever seen..." ;)
>> As Cody and Rachel head downstairs to ease the pangs of hunger, holding hands gently but tightly, they do not realize the events they have set in motion with their actions....yet, like with everything in life, they shall soon find out......

- Rahne/Chrys -
"The Cloud on the Silver Lining."

>> The small common room of the Mandalan Inn is vacant, save for the lone patron tucked away in a far corner.  Rahne's head rests on folded arms atop the table, her ears lower than usual, her tail hanging limply behind her, and her eyes staring blankly at the centerpiece...
* Chrys walks into the room, looks around, and spots Rahne. He sits down in the chair next to her, looking at her.
* Rahne 's eyes shift to the newcomer, but she doesn't move. * ..Yes, Mister Chrys?
<Chrys> R...Rahne...? Are you all right...? :\
<Chrys> .oO(God, she probably hasn't recovered from the Joch thing...she's not up to this...but she has to know...)
* Rahne 's eyes shift back to the centerpiece.. * ..Yeah.. ..I'm okay..
* Chrys sighs. "You aren't, are you...? You just don't want to let anyone know that you're upset..."
* Rahne flicks her left ear.. * ..I just don't want to be a bother to anyone..
<Chrys> How are you a bother, Rahne?
<Rahne> I'm just..  I dunno..  everyone else has their own problems, and they're much worse than mine..
<Chrys> ...Not really, Rahne. You just lost t...eh, one person close to you. I'm sure we can all relate. We all care about you, Rahne. And, you know... everyone's problems seem bigger when they're being bottled up...
<Rahne> ..I've no one to talk to..  Master Joch is dead..  Cody.. well..  Cody was always just being nice.. but.. he never meant the things he said..
* Chrys blinks, a bit taken aback. "What...?"
<Chrys> .oO(You mean...she knows he's... but...how...?)
<Rahne> He always smiled..  told me things I'd wanted to hear, until I decided I could really tell him what I thought..
* Chrys blinks. "But..."
<Rahne> ..Then he was distant..  I was alone..
<Chrys> .oO(Goddess...this is surprising...why is she opening up to me so much...? I thought she hated me...)
* Rahne sighs. * And so here I am.. ..waiting for the bath to become available.. Mandala's Inn can't really spring for things like private baths in the room.. ..I still look terrible..
* Rahne 's tail curls up for a moment, before lapsing back into it's relaxed state.. *
* Chrys sighs and reaches out to Rahne, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Well...that is..."
* Rahne shifts uncomfortably under the touch, though behind her eyes things still seem vacant.. *
* Chrys sighs. "I suck at cheering people up. I'm sorry, Rahne, I'm no Cody. But...well... I'm always here to talk, if you want..."
* Rahne 's calm, sad gaze goes back to Chrys as she slumps back down over the table.. * ..You hit Niki..
<Rahne> ..that image has haunted me since that day..  ..I know she's a brat..  but.. why..?
<Chrys> ...I...I don't know. I don't think I was in control of myself that day...but...god, my mind is getting so twisted around by this thing that I can't tell when I'm me any more...
* Rahne diverts her gaze again.. * ..so.. who am I talking to now..?
* Chrys sighs. "I'm pretty sure it's me...well, the normal me, I mean. Chrys. It's gotten so confusing though...it's gotten worse ever since I met up with everyone..."
<Rahne> Things have gotten worse for everyone..
<Chrys> But...that'll change soon...I'll find an answer...and you will, too, Rahne. You'll find someone out there who can help you with your problems...
* Chrys sighs. "I'm just no good at it. My problems have decided that they want to make me and everyone around me suffer if I can't keep them under control...I don't understand it, really..."
<Rahne> I don't know if there can be any understanding..
<Chrys> ....I want to understand, Rahne...I really do...and I don't just mean me. I want to understand all of you...
<Chrys> But...Rahne...it's just...
<Chrys> .oO(God...I want to hug her..comfort her...let her know everything will be okay... god damn, I'm turning into my mother. -_-;)
<Rahne> It's not hard to understand me..  I was born different..  deformed..  and when I thought it couldn't get me down..  when I thought I had something..  fate, or the Goddess, or something; I dunno..  stepped in and took it all away and kicked me back down into the mud again..
<Rahne> ..I don't want to get up.. ..I just want to lie there.
<Chrys> ...Rahne...if you don't get up...if you don't, then...well...what will the rest of us do...? We've grown close to you...we're friends, even if we don't seem it at times...it would hurt us a lot if you were just gonna give up like that...
<Rahne> I know I have to get up..  but the reason behind doing so is hollow..  But.. even if I didn't want to get up, I don't imagine it would matter much..  ..there are more important things to worry about..
<Chrys> R...Rahne...I...
<Chrys> Rahne, from day one I've always wanted to be a friend...you looked so alone, even when I first met you by Pandora...but...we started off bad, and just got worse...and now you seem more alone than ever... I don't want you to be that way, Rahne...really...
<Rahne> I was born alone, Mister Chrys..  I dunno..  maybe it's a punishment for a past transgression..  ..but the Goddess doesn't like me very much.  I tried to smile, I tried to be happy, and I paid dearly for it..
<Chrys> .oO(You know, that Mister thing bugs me...but I can't just brush her off like everyone else...if she wants to call me that...)
<Chrys> ...Rahne...
<Chrys> It's not just you. Bad things happen to good people. I know how it is... it's just...
* Rahne rubs her nose before settling her head once again.. *
* Chrys sighs and hits the arm of his chair. "Damn it, I don't want to see any of you like this! It's not how we should be! Especially not someone as caring as you, Rahne. We need more kind people in this world...there are too many people who step on other people's emotions...like me and Roric..."
* Rahne cringes as Chrys strikes the chair, her ears retreating back a bit. *
<Rahne> I.. I wish I could be like that..
<Chrys> ...No you don't, Rahne. It's a bad place to be....don't say that... please....
<Rahne> I'd probably be punished for trying it..  trying to ease this.. hurt..
* Chrys sighs and reaches over, softly touching Rahne's ear. "You know..."
* Rahne 's ear feels warm, and soft, almost velvety, and although there's a deep uncertainty in her eyes, she doesn't flick her ear out of his grasp.. *
<Chrys> ...I look at your ears... I don't see you as...well...I don't see you as deformed, you know...? I don't think the goddess was trying to punish you by giving you them...maybe she was trying to make up for all the pain you would have to go through in your life...by giving you something beautiful that you'd always have with you, no matter what...
* Rahne slowly folds hear ears back, the one gently slipping out of his hand.. * All they've done is make people stare and ask questions.. attention I'd never wanted.. and certainly not worth.. ..what I'm going through..
<Rahne> ..If I'd been born normal..  ..I wouldn't have ever gone through this..
<Chrys> I'm sure somebody appreciates them, Rahne. You never know, it might even be someone you already know...
<Chrys> I'm sure somebody can even see past them and notice that you're normal in every other way, and at the same time, maybe even better than a lot of people now days...
<Rahne> I'm sure they're easy to appreciate when they're not your own..  ears that hear things you weren't meant to hear..  a tail from which anyone can read your thoughts like a book..
<Chrys> ...that hear things you weren't meant to hear...
* Chrys sighs and retracts his hand, looking at his feet.
<Chrys> .oO(God, that had to come up, didn't it...)
<Rahne> ..all my life..
* Chrys looks at Rahne. "Would you give them up? If it meant giving up everything that made this happen...if it meant giving up meeting everyone you ever met...would you give them up?"
* Rahne closes her eyes, a look of anguish passing over her face.. *
<Chrys> I'm...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it...
<Rahne> ..It doesn't matter..  ..it can't be changed..  what-ifs and might-have-beens just make the feeling worse...
* Chrys sighs. "You don't want anyone to help you, do you? You don't think anyone can help take away the pain in your heart... so you run from everyone..."
* Rahne blinks, chasing a tear out of her eye.. * ..I don't want to hurt any worse than I already do.. ..I don't want anyone else to hurt..
<Chrys> .....
<Chrys> I...
* Rahne 's tail flicks as she rubs her nose again.. *
* Chrys looks at Rahne and sighs. "I want to help, Rahne..."
* Rahne looks at him a moment before averting her eyes again.. * ..What can you do? You have your own troubles too..
<Chrys> ...I can be a shoulder for you to cry on, Rahne. I can be there to listen... it helps to tell people about your problems...I know...
<Rahne> ..Cody once said the same thing..
<Chrys> ...Did it ever occur to you that he could have been right...?
* Rahne 's brow furrows. * He was never there.. always so busy with other things, other problems.. even his own. How could I intrude.. how could I shove everyone out of the way to speak to him? I couldn't do that.. I waited, and hoped, and dreamed..
<Chrys> ...
<Rahne> ..and in the end, I was forgotten.  Pushed by the wayside by bigger and better things.  Destiny..
<Chrys> ...Fuck destiny, Rahne.
<Chrys> Poets and philosophers all say that man has the power to change fate...so why don't we...?
* Rahne sits up, looking cross. * No, dammit! I can't forget it! Maybe in another time, another place.. when he weren't the damned Gemma, and I weren't so.. different. I tried here.. because.. I-I loved him.. love him still.. b-but destiny waltzed right on in, shoved me aside, and carried him away..
<Rahne> And just for good measure, took away my teacher and friend, leaving me in the dust with nothing by my thoughts... these thoughts..
<Chrys> .........
* Chrys sits there, silent for a while.
<Rahne> How do I compete with that?  I can't..  I never had a chance..  never stood a chance...
<Chrys> ......
<Chrys> .oO(What do I say to her? "Oh, Cody doesn't love you anyways"? Yeah, right...she'll kill me and hang my intestines on the walls as a trophy.)
<Chrys> You...never...
* Rahne 's tail bristles as it flicks back and forth.. * I'm so angry and sad all at the same time.. people have been feeding me what they've wanted me to hear from the beginning! I-I want so desperately to hate! But I can't!
<Chrys> ...Go ahead, Rahne. Go ahead and start. -_-; Start with me. I deserve it. Cody doesn't.
<Chrys> .oO(What am I saying? Yes he does.)
<Rahne> No..  you didn't do anything..  ..not to me..
<Chrys> ...I tried to help, and I just made you hurt more, isn't that right...? That's all this has accomplished, hasn't it?
* Chrys speaks in a slightly unstable voice, sounding like he's on the verge of tears. "Hasn't it? I should just tell you everything, see how you feel then."
<Rahne> This wasn't your doing..
<Chrys> Then hate me just because I'm me. Go ahead. -_-
<Chrys> Lord knows Cody does...
<Rahne> Somewhere..  Cody forgot himself..  my friend from the Water Palace became something else..  He walks and talks like my friend did.. but he thinks differently.  Being the Gemma ruined him..  made him think different..  made him suspicious and paranoid..
<Chrys> ...If you were told you had no choice but to die for the world, would you behave differently?
<Rahne> ..Not if I had someone special..  someone to cling to make me cling to life for just a heartbeat longer..  I wouldn't give up.. I wouldn't throw things away..
<Chrys> ...Now you know how all three of us feel...
<Rahne> I wanted to keep him.. to hold him close and spend long days with him..  but he herds himself towards his own end, taking what he can get along the way..
<Rahne> I wish I could knock some sense into him..  but he'd never listen..  he'd just smile and nod, and not really hear what I said..
<Chrys> ...Rahne...maybe you think differently than most people...but when people are told they're going to die, they panic. They go in a mad rush to do what they can in the time they have left, and run off the cliff like chickens with their heads cut off.
<Rahne> ...and that's when they need someone to give them a good crack in the head..  -_-;
* Rahne slumps back down.. *
<Chrys> ....Maybe someone other than Cody needs a good crack in the head...
<Chrys> .oO(Like Rachel, for instance...)
<Rahne> ..Maybe we all do...
* Rahne sits up a little.. *
<Chrys> I think we do. *sigh*
<Chrys> .oO(Rahne, give me a sign. Give me a sign that I SHOULDN'T tell you about what I heard...)
<Chrys> Rahne...
* Rahne looks up.. *
<Chrys> I...
<Chrys> .oO(What am I going to say? I need to say something...but...I can't say any of what's on my mind...)
* Rahne looks as if she's considering something.. *
<Chrys> ...Rahne...?
<Rahne> ..Yes, Mister Chrys?
* Chrys sighs and glances at her. "Something on your mind?"
<Rahne> Just thinking..  about the sense knocking, and all..
<Chrys> ...
* Rahne does look like her disposition has improved somewhat.. *
<Chrys> Rahne...what...well, you know, it's a two-way street.
* Chrys looks at her. "You know that sometimes you need some sense knocked into you, too..."
<Rahne> I'm already hurt..  I'm not sure if knocking anything into me could hurt any worse..
* Chrys looks at Rahne and chuckles. "No, I mean...well, oh, never mind. I just can't find the right words when I'm talking to you..."
* Rahne looks somewhat ashamed.. * Sorry..
* Chrys blinks. "And this is one of the cases, yep. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Rahne! It's not all your fault..."
* Chrys mumbles low enough that Rahne can't hear. "Some of it's Cody's fault...a lot of it's mine..."
* Rahne looks a little dismayed.. * ..Are you sure I couldn't hear that..?
<Chrys> ...I didn't care. You may not have been the only one I was trying to avoid here...
* Chrys shakes his head. "Never mind."
* Rahne looks away.. *
<Chrys> ...I'm sorry, Rahne. I'm not who you want to talk to. I'm... I'm not Cody. I can never be him. 
<Rahne> ...
<Rahne> Mister Chrys..
<Chrys> ...Yeah...?
* Rahne sighs. * I know you're not Cody.. ..you should be glad that you're not..
<Chrys> ...Why?
<Chrys> He's better than me in every way, he's more pleasant to talk to, he's more refined, he doesn't have clinical schitzophrenia...
<Chrys> .oO(He's got you AND Rachel wrapped around his little finger...)
* Rahne stands up, her tail flicking behind her, and her ears pressed back.. * ...because he's got one serious wake-up call coming..
<Chrys> Rahne...I wouldn't... really... O_o
* Rahne curtsies.. * Thank you, Mister Chrys.. you've been more insightful and helpful than you can imagine..
* Chrys blinks. "Wh..."
* Rahne leaves the lobby, making her way for Cody's room, balling her fists up.. *
<Chrys> Rahne...wait... don't!
* Rahne vanishes around the corner with a flick of her white-tipped tail. *
<Chrys> .oO(Fuck... I've just set the happy love triangle on fire. I was the match that sparked the powderkeg. Way to go, Souryuu, now you don't have ANYTHING worth living for...)
>> Emotions have flared and things are about to explode....Rahne heads to Cody's room in a fury that he doesn't even realize she feels towards him.....but he is about to find out, the hard way, once and for all...

- Rahne/Cody -
"A Final Gamble."

>> The tranquil silence of Cody's room is shattered as the door is flung open, the hall's lights casting a warm yellow light into the room.  It also casts a long, unmistakable shadow of a fox-eared girl..
* Cody looks up from his bed with a start, turning towards the door, "I...wha?"
* Rahne scathingly remarks as she steps into the room. * Cody Hasim Hylissa!
<Cody> W...What...Rahne...I... O_o
* Cody looks rather shocked.
* Rahne strides over to his bed, her tail lashing at the air behind her. * You stupid, stupid guy! Why don't you open your eyes?!
<Cody> Rahne...wh...what's gotten into you? O-o
* Cody stands up, looking at her as if she's lost her mind. O_o
* Rahne winds up, and brings a hand down, slapping him across the cheek! * Why don't you see what you're doing?!
<Cody> Gah--!
<Rahne> What's gotten into me?  You!  Your thoughts!  Your misery!  Your whole damned attitude!
* Cody holds onto his cheek, looking at Rahne in quiet shock. O_o
<Rahne> How can you be so damned insensitive?!  So selfish!
<Cody> I...
* Rahne is breathing quickly, though her tail's swishing has slowed.. *
* Cody tries to form something to say, but it doesn't come out just yet.
<Rahne> What?  You what..?
* Rahne 's anger looks to be subsiding slowly.. *
<Cody> I'm...I'M selfish!? Me?! Look...you do NOT know how sorry I am that things have turned out the way they did. How dare you...!
<Cody> I never meant to hurt you! I've told you over and over again, but you never listen to me!
* Rahne 's anger piques again. * How dare I? I? I bet you're sorry! The minute you learned.. I learned.. you gave up! "Well! I guess I'm just gonna die now!" And that was that!
<Rahne> And don't you dare talk to me about listening!  It's not like you listened either!  Just a smile and nod, to placate a girl whom you thought had no real clue what was going on here!
<Rahne> How dare you just simply roll over and die like that!  Leaving me standing here!  Leaving Rachel standing here!  Leaving us all in the dust!  It's not like we're rushing you to your grave!  Only you seem to want it to happen!
<Cody> It's rather hard not to that whenver I talk to you...to anyone, it all revovles around me being the Gemma! NO one treats me like 'Cody' anymore! It's Cody the FUCKING Gemma! And do you think I flap my lips and tell you those things because i like hearing myself talk?! I KNOW how you feel! I don't know what to do! I can't give you the kind of love you want but you won't accept my frienship either! We're sort of at an inpasse here, Rahne!
<Cody> And I don't want it to happen! I don't want to die, but what can I do? Everyone and their mothers want me dead!
* Cody 's voice sounds angry and on the verge of tears.
<Rahne> Treating you like the Gemma?!  Of this entire group, filled to the eyeballs with royalty and nobility you were the only one I thought was a friend!  The only one I never put a title in front of!!  If you thought you're friends were treating you like the Gemma it's not because of anything they did!  When you learned, you became a hollow paranoid mess!  I haven't seen my friend since that day!
<Rahne> If you want to live, it's time to stop running then!  Running towards this death!  Stand up and fight, dammit!
<Cody> How? How do I do that? Huh? I can't! Everyone wants me and I can't run!
* Rahne 's face cracks, and tears begin to fall.. * You fall back on me.. on Rachel.. on the rest of us..
<Cody> ...But what about you? What about you...?
<Rahne> .. I didn't know you where the goddess-damned Gemma when this started, Cody..  The reason I'm here has nothing to do with the Gemma..
<Cody> ...But you can't forget it, can you? You don't know how much I just want to be normal again. I've never been normal...
<Rahne> ...Gemma be damned, it's what stole you from me..
<Cody> ...But I'm still here.
<Cody> It's you who is leaving me...Whenever I talk to you...ask if you're okay...you just smile and nod and lie. You won't let me help you anymore, and it hurts me.
<Cody> I know why, deep down. And it is my fault. But it hurts.
<Rahne> Don't talk to me about normal.. I've been a hideous abberation since the day I was born..  Poked and prodded by a bunch of know-it-all scholars dominate my childhood memories..
* Rahne hugs him, and holds him tight.. * No.. I'm not leaving you.. If I was gonna leave, I'd have done so long ago..
<Rahne> How can I tell you the truth..  you know how I feel..  I know how you feel..  how can I talk to you about that?
* Cody hugs her back tightly as well, shaking a bit with fustrated sobs, "I don't know...I wish I just...I wish it didn't have to hurt you. I feel so horrible. But this...this is the first time you've really told me how you feel about anything since we left Wendel. You've distanced yourself from me so much I felt like...like..."
<Rahne> You've been so preoccupied and I've been so scared to even approach you..
* Cody pulls back slowly and looks at her straight in the eyes, "Can I tell you something now. And everything I'm telling you is the honest to Goddess truth, okay?"
* Rahne sniffles and nods.. *
<Cody> I know you can't approch me on certain things. But that doesn't mean that you can't talk to me at all. It doesn't mean I don't care about you. I DO. I care about you a lot...I've been so worried about you since we left Wendel. I can't be hte type of lover you want but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. It doesn't mean that you're not special...it doesn't mean that any of this was your fault..or destiny...or anything. It just happened, Rahne.
<Cody> I don't want you selling yourself as inferior anymore, because you aren't and never will be. Joch saw it when he took you in to be his desciple, right? He doesn't just pick people randomly...he chose you because he knows what a special and kind person you are. It's something to be admired. There doesn't need to be titles like Master or Miss in the group because you're nto inferior to anyone else.
<Cody> I meant every word I just said. ...You can believe it or not. I hope you believe it.
<Rahne> No..  you don't understand..  when you were unconscious I was always by your side..  I talked, and talked because it was really my only chance to..  I read you stories, told you everything.. and I'd just hoped that you heard..  in the darkest hour though, I prayed that I'd give anything to see you safely back..
<Rahne> ..and after we returned with Dryad's powers, and Rachel kissed you..  I knew what I'd given away..
<Rahne> ..I wish you weren't the Gemma..  I wish I wasn't me..
<Cody> ...Rahne, I'm glad you're you. I'd be really sad if you ever left...or changed. Happiness is something you make for yourself...it's not always something that's just given or taken away...
* Rahne tries to compose herself.. * It's hard not to think that the Goddess didn't take it away, and punish me for having it in the first place..
<Cody> Why would she punish you? You just followed your heart and I stepped all over it. I should have seen what was going on from the start but...I'm not very good at that sort of thing. ^^; You did nothing wrong.
<Rahne> I remember once, you said there was this girl you liked back in your village..  but she wound up hurting you deeply..  I couldn't sympathize then, but now I know how you felt..  I'm really sorry, Cody...
<Cody> ...I sort of feel like I was June...you know that girl...the way I treated you. -_-;
* Rahne holds his chin up.. * No.. please don't look like that.. ..Maybe it's something we all have to go through..
* Cody nods a bit, "I still am sorry for all of this. Know that, okay?"
* Rahne nods and sniffles, fighting back another rush of tears as she hugs him again.. * I know.. it's just.. hard.. please; I know, but.. please bear with me..
* Cody hugs back, "I want you to know that you can always talk to me. I'm never that preoccupied..."
* Rahne curls her tail around him, and nuzzles a warm ear against his cheek.. * I'm so sorry, Cody..
<Cody> Don't be...
* Cody winces a bit because his cheek stings from Rahne slapping him, but he doesn't say anything.
* Rahne stands there for a long time, not moving.. just thinking, before uncurling her tail and stepping back.. *
<Rahne> ..I..
* Cody looks at her quizzically, "Yeah...?"
* Rahne runs a gentle, cool hand over his reddened cheek.. * I.. didn't mean to do that so hard..
<Cody> It's okay...I deserved it.
* Rahne 's hand falls back to her side.. * I never thought I'd ever do that, actually.. I'm really sorry...
<Cody> It's okay...really...
<Rahne> Are you sure?  ..I don't owe you an icy-desert from room service or anything?  Icy-dessert might make it feel a little less warm..
<Cody> ^^; No...No it's okay. But if you want to talk about things, I'm free. I'm always free.
* Rahne 's tail swishes, and a small smile forms.. Rahne's first smile in what seems like a very long time. * I know you're not always free.. but I'll take what time I can get..
<Rahne> ..do you have a brush handy?  Ever since that..  fireball..  I've been looking kinda frazzled..
<Cody> Probably somewhere...were you burned anyplace? I probably have a salve handy...
* Cody picks up his backpack and begins to rummage through it.
<Rahne> I think I'm okay..  the spell itself bore the brunt of the fire..  just a few scuffs on my knees and stuff..
* Rahne blushes.. * It's so embarassing, this armor.. ..under normal circumstances I'd have never shown this much leg.. ^^;
* Cody hands her some salve anyway, "This'll help... ^^; Dried Yula root is good at soothing burns and scrapes."
* Rahne takes the salve.. * You can brush my tail while I apply this then.. nothing tricky to it?
* Cody blushes a bit, "Ah...well..."
* Rahne 's tail wags.. * I'll try to stop it from doing that, honest.. ^^;
<Cody> No...It's like I said...it's okay for you to wag it because you shouldn't repress how you feel...bottle things up. ^^; Although I'll have to pass on the tail brushing. I'm afraid I'll hurt you.
<Cody> ...By the way...Who brought me back to the inn? I'm curious.
<Rahne> You can't pull it out by the roots..  I don't think you could hurt my tail. ^^;
<Rahne> I'm really not sure..  I was.. pretty down then, and not really paying attention..  Keylia, maybe..
<Cody> I thought Keylia had Niki though..
<Rahne> It would have had to have been Rachel or Roric then, I guess..  I'm not really big enough to do things like that..
<Cody> ...Maybe...Although they were both hurt fairly bad...Wait...it couldn't have been Rachel...Or Roric. Roric was hurt and Rachel had Tori.
<Cody> ...Hmm. Chrys maybe?
<Rahne> Might have been..  we're running out of options..  I should have paid more attention..
<Cody> I'm just grasping at straws, really. I should ask around...thank them and all that. ^^;
* Rahne flicks her tail at him. * In the meantime, hop to the tail, mister.. you won't be touching the legs.. ^^;
<Cody> ^^; All right...I'll brush it this once but if I hurt you ...say something okay?
<Cody> . o O ( I really...really hope this is just a friendly request because people will hurt me if it's not O_o )
* Cody takes the brush and gently brushes out the knots in Rahne's tail. ^^;
* Rahne nods. * Gotcha. But I've hung upside down off of trees from this thing, I should be okay. ^^;
<Cody> That must have hurt O_o
* Rahne sits on the bed and applies the salve.. * Well.. I haven't always been a fan of my tail.. that was one of my attempts to get it to come off..
* Rahne smiles, and her tail twitches as though it wants to wag but but she manages to keep it still.. * You should have seen dad's look when he came home that day to see my hanging upside down from that big Oak in the yard..
<Cody> ^^; Well...I think your tail is fine and makes you you...so if people treat you differently because of your tail...they should...uh...jump off a cliff...or...something.
<Rahne> That's probably a little extreme.. ^^;
<Rahne> Miss Keylia dragged me halfway across Wendel by it once..  it's pretty tough.  :P
* Cody looks a little embarrased, "Well...They shouldn't treat you like that. I mean...no one should make fun of anyone, you know?"
<Cody> ...I remember one time I got a haircut...I was...ten I think. I begged my dad to get one so people would stop calling me a wimp and a girl...and I was so excited...Then I went to school and everyone called me a pixie. Nothing really changed...So even though I may not have a tail...I know what it's like to be shunned for something you can't help.
<Cody> ...even though they're wrong.
<Rahne> In an ideal world, maybe..  But I suppose we wouldn't be who we are without hardship..
* Cody nods quietly.
<Rahne> But I'd told Chrys earlier that what-ifs do more harm than good..  the same thing sorta applies here, I guess..
<Cody> ...Yeah...
<Cody> I thought about a lot of 'what-ifs' lately. I should stop doing that...
<Rahne> All I've done for the last while is think about those..  I know they'll always creep up on me now and again, but I need them to stop ruling my thoughts..  and that's the hard part.
* Rahne wags her brushed tail.. * There.. it feels much better. Thanks, Cody. ^^
<Cody> Don't mention it... ^^
<Rahne> I love wagging it..  it feels great, the air rushing through the fur..  it's fantastic..  but embarrassing. ^^;  You can't tell that to anyone though..  if people learned I actually liked to wag the thing..  well.. I'd hate to think about it. ^^;
<Cody> ^^; I won't...but you shouldn't be ashamed.
* Rahne gets to her feet.. * I guess I should probably go.. My storming in was a rather rude awakening to a good sleep, I'm sure.. ^^;
<Cody> ^^; Well...more that it's getting late too. I think Rachel mentioned something about going to one of the palaces tomorrow...oh...and I'm sorry I scared you with that...seed thing today. I won't do that experiment again. I was kind of hoping I'd turn into superman...but...Guess that wasn't going to happen. ^^
* Rahne smiles at him, her tail swishing behind her.. * Hey.. you're super enough as is.. don't go looking to improve on an already great thing..
* Cody blushes, "Thanks, Rahne...Erhm... ^^;"
* Rahne offers a quick peck to his cheek.. * Good night, Cody..
* Cody blushes again, "Good night Rahne. Thanks for...knocking some sense into me." ^^;
* Rahne slowly and silently turns and exits, closing the door behind her the last thing she does is wave with her tail. * And thank you for listening..
<Cody> . o O ( I Hope for her sake that was a friendly peck. ^^; Probably was. Stop being paranoid, Cody. She told you not to be. )
* Cody leans back against his bed.
<Cody> . o O ( I think deep down she already knows. I'll have to tell her eventually...I just hope things'll work out in the end. It's all I can hope for. )
<Rahne> >> The latch on the door clicks, and the raging storm is abated, tranquility is restored.  For now....or is it?

- Rachel/Chrys -
"Temptation Within the Dark"

>> Well, he never said that he had to love just you...the bastard... his kiss had left you higher than the clouds for a while there, and then the fight broke out in the next room, and then you heard them...He loves her too, of course. No, you aren't jealous, of course not. Maybe a few drinks would help get your mind off it...
* Rachel heads down the stairs to the tavern part of the Inn, her hands clenched at her sides....she slides herself onto a seat and pats the counter. "Give me your strongest. Make it a double."
* Chrys is in the corner of the tavern, in the darkest corner possible, nursing a mug of ale and looking overall not as...well, cheerful and healthy as he usually does.
* Rachel grabs her drink and closes her eyes as she tilts it back, drinking it hard, feeling it burn her throat...she coughs slightly...
* Rachel slams the mug on the counter. "Again. I need to get really hammered...really fast."
* Chrys looks up at the cough, notices it's owner, and looks down at his mug.
* Chrys stands up, finishes his drink, and starts towards the barseat where Rachel is.
* Rachel glares icily at her drink before slugging it back once more.. "Mmnhhh...."
<Chrys> Hey there...why would YOU of all people need to drown your "sorrows" in alcohol, Rachel?
<Rachel> ...? Oh. Hey, Chrys. Why? Because life is real fucked up, y'know..? Well, of course you know, everyone does...but god damnit...
* Rachel slams her mug on the counter.
<Chrys> ...
<Chrys> ...Fucked up? You don't know the half of it, do you?
<Rachel> Take a seat, feel free. Tell me the other half I'm missing.
* Chrys sits down next to her and glares rather coldly. "I'd tell you, you'd hit me, neither of us would be better off. Let's drop it."
<Rachel> I'd hit you, huh....funny....if I didn't hit Rahne, I won't hit you...
<Chrys> ...Rahne..? Why? She hurt your precious Cody...? -_-
<Chrys> .oO(Fuck. I -warned- Rahne...)
<Rachel> "my" percious Cody...huh.
<Chrys> ...That's how you felt a few hours ago. ¬_¬
* Rachel rubs her forehead... "...mm. I'm assuming that you overheard us, then..."
<Chrys> ...How could I not have? You two were talking loud enough that ANYONE who was going to check up on Cody would have.
* Rachel turns her gaze to Chrys. "So you do hate me, huh?"
<Chrys> ...Why would I hate you? I don't hate. I'm not your husband. ¬_¬
<Rachel> ...well, you're definitely not. Or else you'd probably be kissing up to some whore right now...oh wait, you are....ha. Funny. Mm. Then why are your words so pointed, my friend? I didn't talk THAT loudly.
<Chrys> ...
<Chrys> Whatever...you didn't just blow any chance you had at being -happy-. -_-;
<Rachel> Really...that could certainly be argued...but you know what? I'm sick of me...what's wrong?
<Chrys> I assume you heard Rahne going Warrior Bitch on Cody.
<Chrys> ...I was trying to cheer her up and THAT happened. -_-;
<Rachel> Yeesh. Wow. Well...maybe it was coming..
<Chrys> ...Yeah, whatever. I didn't even tell her about anything I heard. NOTHING. She did most of the talking... and then just went off. -_-;
<Rachel> So why are you upset then? I mean, shit, with everything lately....I'm surprised she didn't pop off quicker....
<Chrys> Because I can't help thinking it's MY fault. And I'm sure this whole "I want you, Cody" thing you have going is partially because you can't stand me any more... Bartender, whatever the lady is drinking, make it triple. -_-;
<Rachel> It's not your fault, though. I mean...if anyone's fault, it's really mine and Cody's. I realize it. Probably mine more than Cody's. And I can stand you....I can just feel the fact you're unhappy with me...
<Chrys> ...Jealous, if anything.
* Rachel sighs softly and looks at Chrys once more, the anger draining from her... "....I could say I'm sorry, Chrys, but I don't think it'd really matter right now, huh..?"
<Chrys> ...Why? -_-; I'm the one thats being an asshole...
<Rachel> You have your reasons....I don't blame you for acting strangely....besides, it's not like I'm completely free of blame there either...
* Rachel tugs her now refilled mug to her and tilts it back, drinking the ale eagerly....she finishes it, puts the mug back on the bar and gently wipes her mouth..
* Chrys follows suit, drinking the whole mug without breathing or stopping.
<Rachel> I haven't forgotten, you know...
<Chrys> Forgotten...?
* Rachel nods a little, gazing at her empty mug. "Yeah. I promised you that I'd help you...and I will. You deserve to be happy. Or at least at peace."
<Chrys> ...Yeh, well... you're talking about my whole split personality thing, right?
<Rachel> That...and any other problems you've gained since joining this idiotic quest..
<Chrys> ....Why bother helping me? Not like there's any reason I need to keep living...
* Rachel looks to Chrys again. "There's always a reason....even if it's just to survive....to cheat those bastard 'gods' and fate and destiny and all that stupid shit.....to spit in their faces and laugh.."
<Chrys> ...Wouldn't that be what "he" is doin', though? After all, he's the one who's apparently spent the past three or four thousand years in freaking limbo...
<Rachel> It might be what he is doing....but I'm not talking about him....I'm talking about you...and even when it seems you're both the same person.....I'm talking about what makes you Chrys and not him...
<Chrys> ...
<Chrys> Peh, fuck the gods. I don't care about them...
* Rachel chuckles lowly.. "I'd ask what you do care about but I almost fear the answer..."
<Chrys> ...Nothing anymore, really... Anything I did care about I don't have any reason to any more...
<Rachel> Not even friends?
<Chrys> ...Friends? I have those?
* Chrys laughs. "Yeah, right."
* Rachel glances at Chrys... "You do...."
<Chrys> Hah...not any friends that wouldn't be better off without me..
<Rachel> I've always considered you a friend to me...even if you don't feel the same. And it's my right to figure whether or not I'd be better off without you...and the answer is definitely 'not'.
<Rachel> ...I sound like a damn birthday card.
<Chrys> ...
* Rachel sighs softly and looks at Chrys once more... "...screw it, I'll say it anyway... I'm sorry...."
* Chrys blinks. "For?"
<Rachel> For not being to you who you wanted me to be....and for making life just stupidly difficult for you...
<Chrys> ...Heh. It ain't my concern any more... I can't force you to have the feelings I want ya to have...
<Rachel> ....you know what the sad thing is? I have feelings for you...just...not the right kind....
<Chrys> ...Like Cod' says he does for Rahne, right?
<Rachel> Er...not exactly. More like a 'Hoo, boy, he's hot and I want to touch him' feeling. Cody has more platonic feelings for Rahne.....I think.
* Rachel adds the last part bitterly. ^^;
<Chrys> ...
<Chrys> You think...
<Chrys> .....That why you're down here? You walk into her forcin' him into somethin' or somethin'?
* Rachel sighs softly and looks at Chrys. "I was going to come down here anyway...I was bored and I didn't think the Inn could stand another round of bar songs...but I overheard them...from the sound of it, they were kind of close...."
* Chrys laughs. "Well, fuck that plan...go me. Strikin' out on all the innings."
* Rachel shakes her head.. "Set your sights on her again...?"
* Chrys shrugs. "Well, you ain't exactly an option, are ya? I figured I'd settle for what I'd originally gone to ya about... but -no-, I decided to be nice to her. Nice guys finish last, as usual...and she goes back to kick Cody's sorry ass and apparently have a makeout session, as you say you heard it... Of course, it has to be Cody...piece of shit kid... -_-
* Chrys sighs and signals for the bartender to give him a refill.
* Rachel taps her finger on the bar. "She did slap him. You didn't hear it from down here? It was damn loud..."
<Chrys> I heard that. I heard the yellin', too. And then it went quiet. From what you tell me, she got bitchy, and then they decided to fuck and make up or something.
<Rachel> No...it was too quick for a fuck....more like they got all goo goo eyed at each other and cuddled....augh...
<Chrys> ...
* Rachel clenches a fist and sighs.. "...figures, that..."
<Chrys> Kinda like you did, earlier. ¬_¬
<Rachel> Yeah....I dunno what it is... ever since Kurik... I'm just in complete emotional overdrive..
<Chrys> ...That makes sense...
* Chrys takes a swig of his drink. "After all, your mind's tryin' ta keep ya running. From th' past or whatever it is angsting hero-types usually run from."
* Rachel chuckles lowly... "Yeah. I just wish every guy I fell for didn't have the tendency to play fuckin' juggler with my feelings and heart...though I don't really have the right to say that, eh? After all, I've got these unresolved feelings too..."
* Chrys laughs. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm over here trying to make ya feel better and at th'same time completely ignorin' how you feel about th' twerp..."
<Rachel> No, it's alright...I guess I should be defending his name...but right now I just can't bring myself to do anything besides be all mopey and bitter....I appreciate the whole 'feel better' thing...
<Chrys> Yeh... it's a trademark of mine or somethin... I make a girl feel better about herself an' she goes and gets all romantic with Cody.
<Rachel> Pft. Trust me, no more Cody romance for me tonight, that much is certain. Right now I'm focusing on getting myself nicely smashed and giggling at the ceiling..
* Chrys chuckles, sufficiently drunk to think of something like this. "Well, why don't we spend th' night together then?"
* Rachel blinks in faint amusement at Chrys. "You mean....together? As in....?"
* Chrys shrugs. "Not what I meant necessarially, but if that's what ya want..."
* Rachel blushes a little, running her eyes up and down Chrys for a moment, something dark in her eyes..
* Chrys grins, pushing her bangs out of the way of her eyes...
* Rachel closes her eyes halfway.. "Mm....been so long..."
<Chrys> Since?
<Rachel> Since...well...someone has...I mean...
<Chrys> Since it's been suggested or since you've actually thought about takin' someone up on the offer?
<Rachel> Both....
* Chrys chuckles. "I'm surprised Key hasn't suggested it, really..."
* Rachel blinks and blushes a dark red.. "I haven't seen her."
* Chrys raises an eyebrow. "Come again? I'm surprised."
* Rachel squirms a bit in her chair and looks at Chrys. "I haven't! I thought about going to talk to her...but... decided I should just get drunk instead....she's probably off screwing...Roric..hmph."
* Chrys laughs and reaches over, running his hand through her hair. "Jealous? ...You know, your hair is beautiful, really..."
* Rachel tilts her head into his hand... "...too short...boyish...getting longer, though...need to cut it....and yeah, maybe I am just a little jealous...after all, I've known her longer....do I not meet the requirements of big, dumb and hairy?"
<Chrys> Well, I ain't sure about the hairy part yet, but ya ain't dumb...
<Rachel> Mm.. I can be....I have been a lot lately...
<Chrys> T's one of the things thats so cute about ya.
* Rachel leans back from Chrys and chuckles.. "You're just saying that because you want in my skirt..."
* Chrys chuckles. "Naw. I'd say it to Rahne because I'd want in her skirt. I say it ta you cuz it's true."
<Rachel> Well thanks, I think, tiger.... and if I might say so, you're not so shabby yourself...
* Chrys laughs. "Well, you seem ta be the only one that thinks that... bein' known as 'the stupid hair guy' ain't exactly good for the self esteem..."
<Rachel> Bah. I think the hair is good for you! Makes you look rugged...and purple. ^_-
<Chrys> Y'know... I always wondered why my hair was this color... I mean... purple ain't a naturally occurin' color in hair.
<Rachel> Same way Key's is green, I guess.....just damn good luck? ^_-
<Chrys> Yeah, but Key's an ELF... it makes sense with 'er...
<Rachel> Nothin' makes sense with Keylia... 'course, not much is making sense lately..
<Chrys> Heh...yeah... well, nobody ever said th' life of the Mana Knight was like the storybooks gussied it up ta be...
* Rachel snorts softly and winks at Chrys. "Yeah...where the hell are my multitudes of adoring fans and naked concubines?"
<Chrys> Heh, well, I'm an adorin' fan... And I can be naked if ya want me to... ;) That's a start, ain't it?
<Rachel> Mm... very tempting...or maybe that's the ale...probably both...and yeah, that's a pretty damn good start...
*** Py has left IRC
<Chrys> So ya see... it's starting off on th'right foot.. now we just gotta get the left one movin' and we'll be walkin' right inta th' legends.
<Rachel> Well...there is the fact I'm a woman... ^^;
<Chrys> Ph, so? Nothin' says a pair of tits disqualifies ya from swingin' around th' Mana Sword...
<Chrys> Hell, what do they think? A female Mana Knight's gonna get PMS and destroy th'world?
<Rachel> Well...with me, probably..! 
* Chrys laughs. "But it's a GOOD kind of destroy, yanno."
<Rachel> Depends on who you ask...
<Chrys> I dunno. At least I hear death's quiet...
<Chrys> ...How the hell do ya know you're dead? Do ya just show up in heaven, with the Mana Goddess ready to take ya in?
<Rachel> Probably...wonder if she's naked.. ;)
<Chrys> ...Eh, if she looks like you, 'en who's ta say dying's bad?
<Rachel> Mmph...flirt.. ;)
<Chrys> Who wouldn't be, with you nearby? ;)
<Rachel> I do believe you've consumed enough ale for now, loverboy... ;)
* Chrys grins and slings his arm over Rachel's shoulders. "And you, tiger?"
* Rachel looks at Chrys in amusement.. "Me, I'm half gone....and I'm getting so flirty..."
* Chrys grins. "Let's do somethin' about that, eh?"
<Rachel> Mmm...yeah...sleep.. ;)
<Chrys> Sleep is good.. ;)
<Rachel> In different beds..! ;)
* Chrys nudges Rachel. "Aw, you're no fun!"
<Chrys> Yer probably just gonna take the advantage and sneak into Cody's room and straddle 'im while he's asleep, is that it? ;)
* Rachel blushes furiously... "Uhhmm....no...!"
<Chrys> Uh huh...suuure. ;)
<Rachel> No! Really! I don't think I could... ^^;
<Chrys> Aww, poor Rachie too drunk ta walk up th'stairs? ;)
* Rachel sticks her tongue out. "No! I just....can't have sex!"
* Chrys sticks his tongue out in return. "Why...not?"
<Rachel> Because the desire is there....but I'd get too scared....
* Chrys sobers up a tad. "Past stoppin' ya?"
* Rachel nods just a bit and sighs.. "Mm...and that's why I can't be with you....because I do love that boy upstairs.....and it'd be just a one time thing..."
* Chrys rolls his eyes. "Funny, I thought ya hated him for makin' googoo eyes at th'foxgirl."
<Rachel> I don't hate him....I'm just...angry...
<Chrys> ...Who says there hasta be sex? Two people can sleep in th'same bed without any clothes comin' off.
<Rachel> ....because I'd take yours off. Or you'd take mine off. And as tempting as it is...
* Chrys casts a sidewards glance. "Well, there's always right here, in th'bar..."
<Chrys> Why no...
* Chrys trails off and then busts up laughing. "What the 'ells am I talkin' about?"
<Chrys> You've already said no fifteen times, and I'm just beggin' and beggin'... jeez... th'alcohol's makin' me desperate.
<Rachel> No...it's alright...really... ^^;  I'm not much better....
<Chrys> Well, if I'm gonna die soon anyways, why not? ^^;
* Rachel laughs and leans over to kiss Chrys on the cheek. "Because you could do much better than me."
* Chrys laughs. "Yeh? Tell me one person."
<Rachel> Keylia. ;) I hear she has amazing stamina. ^_-
<Chrys> ...Anyone who can see somethin' in Roric ain't exactly the pickiest woman in th' bunch, really.
<Rachel> She hasn't bonked him yet, I don't think, though.. ^^;  I hope not...hmm....Rhiana?
<Chrys> Hates me. Think I been seein' her makin' googoo eyes at Tori, anyway.
* Rachel rubs her chin and regains a bit of cheer, smiling wryly at Chrys. "I'd say Niki but that would seriously be pushing it..."
* Chrys grins. "I might as well be tellin' ya to go out with Hasim... that's just..."
<Rachel> Wrong? Scary? Horribly x-rated?
<Chrys> Yeh, yeh, and DEAR GODDESS I hope not.
* Rachel shakes her head and winks at Chrys. "You done for the night, tiger?"
<Chrys> 'at depends. Drinkin' or flirtin'?
<Rachel> Mm. The drinking, I was talking about.. ^_-
<Chrys> Sure. ^_-
* Rachel taps a finger at the bartender and smiles beautifully at him. "Hi there, sweet stuff....all these drinks here? Charge them to one Kurik Brodeur...all the way in Pandora. You should know his name."
>> The man blinks and wideyes before nodding furiously.
* Chrys chuckles.
* Rachel turns back to Chrys, standing a little uneasily. "Mmph. The powers of being almighty. Or something."
* Chrys stands up and bows somewhat clumsily. "Shall we, m'lady?"
* Rachel chuckles lowly.. "Mmm....I'll walk you to your room...and then I'm going to mine, loverboy...and hopefully tomorrow you won't throw up on us...."
* Chrys pouts jokingly. "Sure you don't wanna follow me into mine?"
* Rachel shakes her head. "Tempting...! But, alas, that would just make my life even more complicated and it would probably make Cody hate me and you hate me and Rahne hate me....and I just don't need that hate!"
* Chrys grins. "Naah. Cody'd hate me. And what th' hells does Rahne have to do with anythin'?"
* Rachel tugs Chrys towards the rooms by his shirt sleeve. "Well, she'd hate me for hurting Cody and she'd probably hate me because she'd think I was going to hurt you.."
* Chrys grins. "Can I say someth'n to ya?
<Rachel> Sure thing...it's a free country.. ^_-
<Chrys> Turn around. Wanna see yer face.
* Rachel turns around, blinking a few times.. ^^;
<Chrys> Y'got a nice smile.
* Chrys leans, almost stumbles forward, embracing Rachel, and kissing her passionately and deeply.
* Rachel wideyes and touches Chrys's chin, returning the kiss just for a second before tearing her face away, realizing that she's doing something very stupid and wrong.... "Uhhh..."
<Chrys> Heh... you're gonna hit me now, aren't ya? ^^;;
<Rachel> . o O (Rache....hormones....bad...bad hormones...Cody...think of Cody...uh, woah, no, that didn't help my hormones...uhm...shit...)
<Chrys> .oO(I like bunnies...)
<Rachel> Err, no.. ^^; I'll let that one slide, tiger....but you've been warned! ;) No more kissy face or I'll bop ya one.. ^_-
* Chrys grins. "Suuuuure. Yer just afraid to admit ya liked it."
* Rachel gently tugs free of Chrys and grabs his sleeve again, heading up towards his room... "Mmph. I'm a big bundle of hormones...it's not exactly something I can help!" ;)
<Chrys> 'Ey! So am I! We can fix 'at! We know how! ^^;
* Rachel shakes her head and laughs.. "Here.. I believe this is your room..."
* Chrys grins. "Good for it. Now yours..." ^_-
<Rachel> . o O (He is definitely drunk....mm....I'm sort of sober now...figures...!)
* Rachel puts her hands on her hips. "No no....you're supposed to go INTO your room...!" ;)
<Chrys> Aww, but can't I go inta somethin' else? ^^
<Rachel> Sorry....no parking zone.. ^_- Not anymore, anyway. But hey, there's always dreams.. ^^;
<Chrys> C'n I go do Cody 'en?
* Rachel blinks and bursts out laughing. "Erm....I think it would be hilarious if you tried....but somehow I doubt he'd appreciate it...maybe tomorrow?"
<Chrys> Aw, but I won't be drunk enough t'morrow... I'll think 'bout things like morals and consequences. They suck when it comes ta sex. And not in th'good way. :|
<Rachel> True, true....but don't worry...there will be other drunken nights.. ^_-
<Chrys> 'ere better be.
* Rachel laughs. "Go to sleep, tiger, and tell me how you feel tomorrow, hmm?" ;)
<Chrys> ...Heeey, we could have a foursome! ^^ th'two of us, Cody, and Clingy!
* Rachel blinks and pauses at that. ;)
<Rachel> ...mmm.
<Rachel> Cody would never go for it...and Rahne definitely wouldn't.. sorry.. ;) 
<Chrys> If we got 'em drunk 'nuff...
* Rachel waggles a finger and opens Chrys's door for him, turning him to face the inside of his room. She slaps him lightly on the ass. "Go to bed!" ;)
<Chrys> Waah, Rachie, but I wanna play in tha shoowwwww... ;_;
<Rachel> Again...there will be other drunken nights ;)
<Chrys> No 'ere won't. ;_;
<Rachel> I promise. ;) And maybe next time you can ask him for a foursome yourself, eh?
<Chrys> Buh...but what if th'inn blows up? Then I'llve missed m'chance... ;_;
<Rachel> It won't blow up! ;) Go to bed, Chrys! ;)
<Chrys> Waaah.
* Chrys quietly sulks into his room and flops onto his bed, passing out almost immediately.
* Rachel shakes her head, looking at him in amusement before closing the door tightly...she wanders to her own room, pausing at Cody's to listen at the door...
>> There is soft breathing....as if he is asleep....
* Rachel considers, remembering Chrys saying something about straddling....
* Rachel shakes her head and continues to her room, opening the door and going inside, closing it tight behind her... "Men..."
* Rachel then turns and stops in her tracks...
>> On Rachel's pillow lies a single carnation. It's obvious who it is from.
* Rachel stares for a moment before half rushing to her bed, flopping on it and grabbing the carnation...she smells it tentively and smiles broadly.. "....Cody....thank you.."
* Rachel hugs the carnation tight to her body and yawns softly, nuzzling her pillow....she closes her eyes and the alcohol, combined with the emotions running wild lately, soon finds her asleep...
>> The night swirls onwards, encompassing the land, and the heroes of Mana sleep after finally defeating their own feelings, their own demons....but what is gone can be revived and what is damaged can be fixed...perhaps things aren't so final after all..?

=== Mega Interlude End ===