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 Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:27 am
Closer.. What he was explaining was similar to the feeling she described, except, she knew what heartache was, too. She'd felt it at that cursed island just as much as he.
And this wasn't exactly that, either.
It's just not the same. She huffed in frustration. And I just.. enjoyed the certainty in the way I felt it for Malodore. And only Malodore. I thought that was an indicator of what this feeling meant.
She pressed her head down into her knees, and sighed.
Now I don't understand anything anymore. Logically, I am aware of certain things. One, I am in love with Malodore. Two, you are my best friend. These are static variables in my life, and they are unchanged by the way I feel.
Her head lifted slightly, and her eyes narrowed to slits angrily.
So tell me. Why, exactly, did I feel that way about you when you held me on that field this morning?
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:36 am
So he was wrong again. Furrowing his brow, Jericho had to dig even deeper into his experiences to try and pick out what it was she meant, but she began to explain anyway. Even so, while she was describing it, he was searching deep within himself for anything of that sort.
But he had never been in love, so it was possible he hadn't felt it at all yet.
Or perhaps...
Everything just came to a pause at those last words she spoke before he could figure it out. It confused him. And apparently it confused her as well as frustrated her. If this was the case... that did explain why she was acting so strangely around him.
Silence hovered around there for awhile.
"You... sure it was caused by me?" he asked, just wanting to double check. All other thoughts were put on hold at the moment, but he'd resume soon enough. He was almost on to something before this bit was thrown out there or so he thought at the very least.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:44 am
Riley rolled her eyes and shook her head sternly. What other reason could there have been? There was nothing but you holding me there. The closest other factor was Nukpana, writhing on the ground several feet away. And it was a direct response to the fact that you were calming me down while calming yourself down. You.. reminded me of myself, somehow.
Her hand lifted to press against her temple. Except. That isn't why I felt like that. At least, I don't think - her hand slammed down in frustration.
I just don't know! There is a connection. Something. I don't understand. It's like, something.. clicked?
Her voice sounded like she was pleading with him. Fix it fix it fix it, Jericho. Make things normal again.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:56 am
Jericho's eyes were closed as the gears were churning away in his head. There was something there... just at the very fringe of his mind. And the way she described it just poked at that edge even more, despite the pleading tone she was using.
Wait.
"I... think I know what you mean. For real this time," he said, "I.. might have felt something like that while flying. I don't mean when I'm flying normally... I'm talking about when I'm taking you with."
He paused there, still trying to pick out the details.
"Also yeah, during that hug. There was a connection there," he started. Before he just thought he was just highly empathetic with Riley but she was right, there was something there.
"You and I can pick up very easily on how one another feels. It's hard to hide anything without being noticed. There is... a love, but I don't think it's the romantic sort. I..."
This was starting to drive him crazy.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:46 am
Now they were on the same page. As much as it relieved her to know he understood, this didn't fix the problem.
The funny thing is, that connection - that.. whatever it is, it doesn't stem from the mind. At least, I don't think it does. If it did, I feel like I would have a better handle on it. It isn't like I'm sensing anything in particular due to my extrasensory perception. And, Jack, you don't even have that. So then what? What is going on, Jericho?
She sat up straight again, sitting closer so he could see the confusion in her expression.
Seriously, you have to understand. This is tearing me apart. It doesn't make any sense. And it came out of nowhere. Her voice turned just a bit sour. It can't have anything to do with me. My kind don't meddle in the affairs of the heart. We don't have connections like this.
Even from this distance, she could tell something was there. She rested her hand on his cheek, and closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly as she searched every recess of her mind to find the source of the problem. When she found nothing, she turned to other places. Namely, her heart.
I want. What did she want? Was there some part of her that felt for Jericho the way she felt for Malodore? That wasn't it. That couldn't be it. No, she wanted something. Something.. she wanted... something.
I want. She was really trying now. The struggle was evident in her voice. It just wasn't natural for her kind to form bonds, let alone-
Her eyes opened, and she blinked. Her words came out like a rush of air. I want to go flying with you.
As soon as she'd said it, she shook her head and pulled away, immediately distrustful of the thought. No, no, that isn't going to solve anything. But even as she denied it, the feeling remained a constant urge, and the ache in her heart remained.
You know, she laughed weakly. You really should have just let me get a mindwipe.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:08 am
There was definitely confusion there in her face. Though, now he was a bit confused himself. It wasn't really something he had put a whole lot of thought into before but now that he did, he just couldn't quite figure it out yet.
While she sat there, trying to figure out her own feelings, Jericho raised a hand to place over hers. Her sudden and seemingly random desire seemed make something stir within him. And there was disappointment when she backed away from that thought. However, that did help him figure something out.
At least he hoped this was the case else things would be a tad awkward.
"I still don't think the mindwipe would have helped much," He said before pausing, "I.. think I know what this is. You're right. Mindflayers don't have connections like this. You're one of very few to be the rider of a dragon that isn't a thrall."
Jericho's eyes shifted away into the darkness as he was trying to explain further.
"I don't know a whole lot about it myself. Chromatics rarely ever take on a rider. But... I have heard a few vague stories of distant lands were it happens more readily. Something... happens. Like a strong bond forms between the two."
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:40 pm
The more Jericho tried to explain, the more Riley began to believe, deep down, that it wasn't her fault. More to the point, she started to believe it was his. The seed of anger was planted, but would not take root.
So you're telling me this. This thing. This.. Her nails curled up into her hands, leaving red marks on her palm. .. Is a dragon thing?
Now she remembered. Somewhere, down the line, a thought. A memory. A warning. Some Illithid, long dead and gone, adding to the hivemind the single thought - never befriend a dragon. There was no reasoning, no explanation, and the Illithid had died shortly after. There was no reason to recall the information, or worry about it.
Until now.
Riley turned to sit normally on the couch, leaning slightly against her friend. Her eyes looked down at her claws, inspecting them.
I already thought we had a bond. This friendship thing, is that not supposed to be a bond? She looked up at him curiously. It was the least problematic thing in my life, at the time. Now, this. She took a sharp breath. If this is your doing, then you must tell me how I am supposed to respond to it. You know my initial reaction is to run. You know this. I could even guess that you feel that need, if this is how things are now. But I'm not. I promised Malodore I would not run from my fears anymore, and I plan on keeping every promise I make to it. Every promise. So, Jericho, my friend. What do we do?
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:00 pm
"I... guess so. This.. doesn't really happen all that often with my kind so I don't know a lot about it," he admitted while glancing away. When she started to speak again, he looked back at her, thinking over everything that was being said.
"Friendship is a bond, yes," Jericho said, "But this is kinda something beyond just that. It's not the bond of lovers but.. something else, even if it might be something similar. That's what it feels like at least. We'd have to look into dragons of other lands to try and find out more of it outside of what I know. I know that... it's not a bad thing so if you can just accept it and maybe embrace it?"
He furrowed his brow and thought it over a little more.
"I believe the only way to really break the bond is ... if one of us were to die.. for good. Th-that... isn't something I'd ever want to experience though if possible."
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:02 pm
Riley's blood went cold.
She backed away slightly, if only to be able to turn and look him in the eye. Her expression held nothing now but cold, dark dread.
What do you mean. What happens if one of us dies?
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:06 pm
"I.. I don't really know but.. I just.. get this really bad feeling," Jericho said quietly while trying to figure out how to describe the sort of dread he now felt while thinking about it.
"Something like this could work greatly to our advantage, making us both stronger... maybe even making one the extension of the other in a very loose sense. It would probably be a terrible thing to feel to lose a piece of yourself for good.."
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:11 pm
Riley's worries seemed to multiply by the minute. Could nothing about this Jack-forsaken assignment be easy? They should have just left her in the hive where she belonged!
Jericho. Riley's voice was very quiet. I think that is very bad, for you. She turned back to sit straight, her shoulders slumping slightly. I mean, you're right about all of those things. We could end up using this to our advantage. It would make us stronger. All of this is true. But.
The cold pit of dread in her stomach made her nauseous. There's something you should about my kind. About.. our traditions. We have one, in particular. You're not going to like it..
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:18 pm
Riley's concern was infectious and it was making Jericho begin to worry what was on her mind. Why was this bad for him? Wouldn't it also be bad for her too if that was the case?
"What... is it?" he asked, sounding fairly uncertain.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:33 pm
How, exactly, was she going to explain the trials to someone who she suddenly found would be directly affected by it?
She wouldn't.
Riley's hand reached up and touched his temple, using the physical touch as merely subconscious assistance for his mind to accept what she was about to do. Her memories resurfaced, and she opened her mind to Jericho, allowing him to see the children battling for their lives. The young purple illithid with familiar eyes, tearing away at the tentacles of another. A flash of each battle came, as they slowly watched Riley grow from a scrawny little illithid to the strong, capable ghoul she had become. Each time, the fight had been less of a struggle, and more of an annihilation.
Until Andeon.
Three days, their fight had lasted. The damage was incredible. Both illithids looked absolutely horrible, but in the end, the elder brain had granted them both clemency.
It had taken her an entire year to regenerate her tentacles.
When she pulled away, she added a quiet explanation. It's population control. We must fight once every three years. The lifespan of the drow body we inhabit is long, but we don't make use of it. The average lifespan of an Illithid..
Well, no need to put a number on it.
Jericho, I think you made the wrong choice.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:57 pm
Waiting anxiously, Jericho didn't really expect her to project images of carnage and battle right into his head. It was a little disconcerning, especially when he realized these were all Riley's own memories. That last one was hard for him to watch. He knew the outcome for the most part, seeing how she was here with him today but it was still not easy to see.
For a moment or so, the dragon was silent. Every three years her life was at risk. And if he was right about this bond thing, it meant that now his own mental and emotional wellbeing would be at risk as well.
"It's only if you die for good. Death... is not always absolute here," Jericho said seriously, "Besides. You're a strong person, Riley. Even more with a dragon at your side even if I'm not literally there. You won't die on me."
He reached over for her hand to try and take it.
"I did not make the wrong choice."
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 5:28 pm
Why was he always so bloody optimistic? Moreover, why did this always bring to light how she was so damn pessimistic? She made a disgruntled sound of frustration at his final response, her expression visibly pouting downward. Would you stop seeing the silver lining? It's so annoying. Even as she said the words, she had to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.
The tension in her shoulders relaxed, but her initial problem still remained.
So. Does this mean I don't have to worry about this feeling? Because I still don't know exactly how to handle all of this. It's all.. very difficult. Feelings, I mean. Emotions, and bonds, and love. The moment she said the word, her mind brought up the image of the plague doctor, and it soothed her. She rested her head against Jericho's shoulder and sighed. Her eyes lifted up to look at him and her expression lifted.
.. Will everything really be okay? There was that voice again. That strange, unfamiliar voice, that sounded nothing like the ghoul they'd come to know as Riley. Another person entirely seemed to be asking Jericho this question.
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