Welcome to Gaia! ::

She sat up suddenly and he was aware of the movement, even though his eyes were closed. Sensed it or heard it, either way, he knew she'd moved and opened his eyes, turning to look at her slowly. He tried to school his features and wipe all evidence of the pain from his eyes but it didn't quite work. His body remained strained and though his features calmed somewhat, his eyes seemed hollow and sad, if not agonized as before. He straightened, however, and lowered his closed fist to his side, though he did not put the ring back in his pouch. Feeling it there, digging into his skin, was what he needed right now. It was punishment and reminder and he needed some connection to her still...

She spoke once more and he noticed that she was not looking at him. He felt mildly out of place now that she was awake, though that cold and sense of wrongness had dissipated from the room. Why was he there, anyway? A sense of...kinship with her because they'd suffered like pasts? Who knew...

Clearing his throat slightly, he took a deep breath to make certain his voice would not betray his emotions. Even so, he spoke softly and a little more...gently than usual. Not his neutral tone of before, that was certain.

"I was not resting so do not trouble yourself with that. You need not ask forgiveness from me, of all people. If anything, I should apologize for intruding on you in this way."

His piercing and sad blue gaze met her now green one. They seemed to change colour quite a bit, silver to green at the moment, though he didn't comment on it, merely filed it away as information about her as he always did. At least some part of him was functioning normally during these bad memories and all this pain...it was somewhat comforting in a way. It hadn't totally consumed him, then. At least...not yet.

He listened to her speak and acutely felt the pain in his hand, embraced it almost. He deserved this pain and so much more for what he'd done...and if anything, he clenched it tighter. It hurt more...that was good. He nodded at her statement. He supposed it made sense.

"Then I am glad I was here to give you whatever small joy my presence provided." He didn't exactly sound glad, still speaking softly and measured, but he couldn't quite force the emotion into his voice right now anyway. An eyebrow rose slightly as she pushed herself out of the bed slowly and moved towards him. She probably shouldn't be moving..but it was not his place to tell her what she could and could not do.

His eyebrow rose a little more as she reached out towards his clenched fist but it made sense with her words. Looking down, he did indeed see the slight crimson trail leaking out of his fist. If it had been at all in his character, he would have smiled bitterly but as it was, he had no heart to do so. She looked up at him and he sighed slightly, bringing his fist up slowly and glancing down at it once more. He hesitated a moment, almost not wanting to reveal the ring because it was such a private part of him...but he did not see how it could be avoided. Slowly, he opened his fist and indeed, there lay the ring, now bloody, dug into his skin which had caused the wound. With the deft fingers of his other hand, he plucked it out, which hurt slightly though he showed no sign of this pain.

"I will have to wash it." He announced, softly, meaning the ring, which he held between two fingers in his other hand, as much as his hand. Looking up from the slight wound, he glanced around for a washbasin.

She snapped the blade back into place. "Who says you aren't an enemy? How do you know if I'm good or evil? I am of no obligation to answer any of your questions." Star replied.

Star thought for a minute. "A name is a key to alot of things. It can be used in many ways. I can't give you mine until I know more about you. So, you can call me...Sya." she replied.

Avatre's situation calmed, Archaedus relaxed, but presently tensed again. Without the stress of Avatre's screams, he was able to tune into an unkown presence outside the Place...and Star was outside. "Excuse me." He stated calmly, rising quietly from the table.

He tread lightly throught the hall and stopped at the front door. He didn't dare open it, he just stood at the crack, listening.

((Burn me for a fool! *blinks* Whoa...been reading too much Wheel of Time lately I guess. But anyway...sorry about the delay. There's really no excuse for it.))

Upon seeing her ring, Demetrius noticed that her fingers went to her chest. Maybe this Adrian had left Avatre with a memento just as she had with him...though he would not ask. They seemed to grow more and more alike though he would not let that influence him. He had acquaintances, but friends were no longer a luxury. Survival was the came and he would ride whichever tide took him that way. Why not? He'd done enough now that nothing but that seemed to matter. Perhaps an empty existence for some...but it suited him. No more friends, no more reminders of friends lost...

Her words brought him out of this and stopped him searching the room. He nodded and located the wash basin. "I thank you." He said, softly, politely, striding over to it. He poured some water from the pitcher into the basin and set the ring at the bottom before plunging his injured hand into the lukewarm liquid. It seemed into the wound and the red from his blood appeared in the water. He didn't wince from the pain, however, his expression didn't change and he let it soak for a few seconds before picking up the ring and scrubbing at it with his fingers. He wouldn't stop until it was spotless and shining again. That part of him, at least, would remain unmarred.

"I'm sorry, I can't make a decision." Star replied. She silently hoped Archaedus or someone would come and make a decision about this man.

"I'm not sure." Star replied, relieved Archaedus was here. "There is a newcomer, good or not, I cannot tell."