Lahabrea

[The little mammet's eyes light up in a flash of red, then quickly fades to white.]

Merely doing my duty as befits my station and title.

Useless to you, perhaps.

[Thin strands of red aether connected from his fingertips to every joint on the mammet.]

Plotting and scheming, as I told you already.

[in his hands was a mammet and a delicate aether scribing tool]

Clearly not, your leg is attached to you, and my hands are occupied.

Nefarious deeds, and plotting the Star's demise.

[tinkering with something!]

[He is quick to pull the dagger from his wrist with a smile.]

I expect nothing less. And no, I was not here to assume you wished to engage in intimacy.

[The wound knits itself together quickly.]

I will see you around then, Thancred.

Neither.

If it is charm you want, then it will be charm you get. If it is force you want, then that is what you will get.

The choice is yours, Thancred. Though I would prefer the former over the latter.

[He moves in closer, grabbing his chin. He forced Thancred to look him in the eye.]

Predictability is something all Thancreds share, and I have known dozens, if not hundreds. None were worthy, all found wanting. Yet the desire they felt, they denied.

Pitiful, predictable, disappointing.

Clearly, as we are both from differing realities, yet here we are, now in the same. He had his reasons, of which you cannot ever possibly fathom. Not that you would *allow* me to show you.

And to what end, I wonder. You approached first, now you decide to cast me aside. How predictable, Thancred.

I never asked you to reconcile what transpired. Nor do I ask forgiveness for him or myself.

Just as I do not expect you to want to know the reasons why things transpired as they did. You do not know what happened, what transpired that led him and I down that path.

No. He remembered. That is what set him apart from the rest. By some grace of your gods, he remembered.

[he shut his eyes, remembering the last time he physically saw his Thancred.]

If you had been there, you would have understood. To call him beyond hope is to call yourself the same.

He did, and in great, /intimate/ detail. His exhilaration was quite palpable. Even after I was ousted by the Warrior of Light, he routinely sought me out for comfort, companionship…lust. Until he was suddenly gone.

[There would never be privacy, not while the mark remained.]

I look forward to it, Olwen.

[He gave her a curt bow, watching as she stalked off, before disappearing into his teleport.]

I did say it would be yet another invasion.

[He seems to stare deeply into his soul. But that would be silly, right? Surely Lahabrea does not have soulsight. It was supposedly a rare gift, and the man never divulged his secrets easily.]

You, however, do not sound very convinced of yourself.

A pity it will not heal. What is left if not excision?

[his eyes narrow, considering his options.]

I could remove his mark, but that would be yet another invasion into your already fragile soul...

Am I truly a bastard when I've given you some entertainment, Olwen?

[He grins, taking a half-step closer to her.]

You truly are beautiful. I can see why they love you so. Do take care, Olwen.

[His grin fades, then teleports backwards 10 yards]

[The moment her hand struck his cheek, he chuckled. Thin whisps of smoke streamed slowly from the corners of his mouth. Red-hot aetherial shackles snapped shut around her wrists, locking together. He knew she could break the bonds on her own with enough force.]

There she is… Beautiful.

Clearly, as are you. I see his mark. Identical, yet unique in its own way.

Where did your Lahabrea go, I wonder? What a shame, missing something so indelibly written into your very soul.

Do you miss him, Thancred?

It is not something I plan to forget ever. Nor shall I forget your raging beauty.

[He grins. Another dare for her to hit him.]

Petty amusement, Olwen.

[He straightens himself back up, straightening his high collar.]

I do retract my statement of your beauty being wasted, though. It is put to perfect use. I pity any man or woman who falls into your trap.

[While not particularly gentle, he was firm in holding Thancred's jaw. He watched as his pupils dilated, then turned his head to each side.]

Stress toys, Thancred. I was talking about stress toys.

[He finally released him.]

We shared a bond of trust and passion. Cordial most times. Raw others.

Then why do you not walk away?

[He leans down, smiling oh-so-charmingly. Really, he anticipated a slap or a punch from Olwen. He /was/ giving her the chance.]

If I had any inkling, I'd say you did not find me nearly as irritating as you let on.

[He grabs Thancred's face, forcing him to look up at him.]

No, it wouldn't, and you know that, don't you?

[His skin felt like burning embers against Thancred's skin. His grip would not be easily gotten out of.]

I did not think you did know, but you clearly need something.

Just as you are not the 'right' Thancred that you could not give me the same closure you seek. I know not of what became of him; only that there is a void where there should be something.

Aye. That he has...

[He looks at Thancred. He breathed a slow, steady breath out.]

You want something from me, do you not? Speak plain, Thancred, I am in no position to deny you.

Or, perhaps I am enjoying being confusing.

Then you should know very well that there is no point in attempts to claim a Seat that no longer exists. It has not existed for twelve thousand years.

Since you are aware that you are free to do as you please, I suggest living your own life.

Do not covet that which does not exist.

No, I suppose I do not.

You were the one claiming I made a “pass” at you, all I did was comment on your beauty being wasted. Nothing so untoward, or wherever your mind brought you.