Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 6:28 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

"Yes, I know of her. I know of her as well as Master Drae does. She almost manipulated him too," Iris said softly. She knew all that Nathaniel had done, but she hadn't realized that it had taken place in the other world. "I think I understand."

"I know that Rosenites are different. The variation in appearances makes sense just by looking at normal plants. A fruit tree can bear a variety of different fruit if branches from other places are grafted in, and flowers come in all sorts of different colors and shapes despite being of the same genus simply because of cross-pollination, and it does not adversely effect the plant," Iris prattled on. "Obviously I made the mistake in my argument of forgetting that Rosenites are not in fact human at all. Just in appearance," she said with a sigh. "Though you make perfect sense about the step-siblings, since there isn't technically any sort of blood relation there…"

She looked over at him as he folded his arms across his chest, eyes closed as he explained what a 'thing' was meant to be. She looked him over, thinking he looked both dignified despite his relaxed manner. As she looked at him, she couldn't help but think about how long his eyelashes were. She'd seen them up close like this before just once. The urge to touch them overrode her senses and she lifted a hand and lightly ran her finger over his eye. It felt like her fingers were brushing over a soft feathery fan. When she realized that she was very much invading his space she quickly withdrew her hand. 

Author: Nathaniel, Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 10:07 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

“Aye, I’m sure you heard of Drae’s patron Cyprus. In the other world, she manipulated me and destroyed me… I did many bad things and my sister ended up killing me because of Nemesis. I’ve been dead for a long time until recently so… That is what she meant.”

He took a good long look at her for a moment and started to laugh. “Rosenites are a bit different I am afraid. We aren’t exactly made like most races because of the mashing of everything that went into our creation. It’s why my mother and her sisters look so different despite having the same parents. Though it is frowned upon for siblings, we are most close to being step siblings then actual siblings. Step siblings sometimes do get married.” He shrugged a bit and thought about her question more.

He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “A thing is more like… Mother and Drae are a thing. Foxglove and Dart are a thing. Nerezza and Kaiser. It’s used to describe a couple. They are saying that they expect us to become a couple.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 9:28 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

"Angela mentioned that you lost a lot of time to death… I wasn't sure I understood what she meant by that. Though, I find it reassuring you are almost as new to this world as I am," Iris smiled. 

She looked at him, trying to understand what he meant. Nathaniel himself was the same as the one who had been in the otherworld, which answered Iris's unasked first question. Angela, however, had taken her other world self into her and became a singular entity as they had previously discussed. In essence he was about as family to Angela as Iris was in that sense. 

"It was just something I overheard in the library while I was re-shelving books. They said it was a shame we were related otherwise they would have expected us to become a 'thing'. I'm not sure what they meant. I do know that marriage to siblings is not out of the ordinary in Canelux, especially if it means keeping bloodlines pure and keeping royalty and nobility within certain families, but outside of that it seems relatively unheard of…" she shrugged slightly. "Parvpora has a slightly different outlook on the idea though, and I know it is an outlook that Master Drae has more or less adopted."

She looked at Nathaniel. "What did they mean when they said they thought we should be a 'thing'? Do they mean transforming and becoming some sort of inanimate object?"

Author: Nathaniel, Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:59 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

He turned his head and looked at Iris. “Truth be told I don’t think even Drae knows about that. The darkness that my mother was. I don’t think she would talk about it lightly or if ever. Her secrets are tightly shut and who knows if someone would be able to get her to talk about it.”

For a few moments, he paused and thought about it. “I’m not like my mother in that sense. I had no doppelganger here Iris. I was dead, I had a sword shoved through my heart.” He wasn’t upset about it but he could understand what she was saying. “Draconis don’t die easily and most of the time we’re re birthed sorta. So in a lot of ways Iris I'm like you. I don't know the first clue about Revaliir and I'm learning as you are."

Her question threw him off and he took a deep sigh. “Yes and no. I’m not from the Angela of this world but you are also only her child by breath. It’s a complicated answer. I’m not even really related to the siblings here but we are by the soul of my mother I suppose. Why do you ask?”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 8:04 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

"The same one. It's theorized that the Himiria Star that fell to earth here was once part of this meteor shower and got knocked out of it's path. It crashed down in Arri and became a symbol of power for the Rosenites in ancient times," Iris said. "Same as in the Rose women… same stone that was gifted to Master Drae and now orbits around this Occulus," she said indicating to the Himiria Ring that rotated around the outside of the massive crystal dome. 

She looked at Nathaniel and shook her head. "No, I did not know that. I understand that there was a dark time in Angela's history, and that things became conflicted and difficult for many people when the Time Death opened the void rifts all across Revaliir, but this wasn't something I was ever told," she said softly. She listened to him silently as he recounted the memories he had of the old world. He like many others had a counterpart in that world, as Angela and it seemed all her bloodline had. She wondered if the other world Nathaniel was anything like this Nathaniel. 

"It must be strange… having been exposed to two different lives that were so different and yet the same," she said. "Memories conflict, and it is hard to keep straight events that took place in each world. At least I would assume…" she said looking up at the stars that streaked past them. The mention of family got her thinking and she sighed. 

"Nathaniel… are we siblings?" she asked. 

Author: Nathaniel, Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2017 7:51 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Nathaniel gave her a smile and chuckled. “As long as you don’t clam up anymore or try not to just because you are confused we should we alright. That’s the most confusing part for me I will admit.” He continued to brush her face with his fingers until they looked at the sky.

He watched with amazement as the stars started to shoot off in the sky and soon found himself being the only person standing. He sat down by her on the pillows and watched with interest as she talked about it. “Same stone that is in Mother and my aunts huh?”

Tilting his head he looked over at her. “Did you know in the old world… My grandfather wasn’t a good man like he was here. He tortured my mother and skinned her lover. My mother was twisted a bit… here she is warm and kind… There isn’t that malice that she had if someone took things too far. Not the same kind of darkness she had.” His voice was soft as he recounted the memories.

“I remember helping my mother build an extra room onto our cabin out in the woods. See Ma was a healer in the city but we lived in the forest a long ways from it. She could protect us better there. Aary and I have such a big age gap because my father had already died once protecting us when we lived in the city. So it amazes me to see all the changes, especially in Ma. They are good changes but I can still remember everything else about the other world.”

He closed his eyes after a few moments. “Things are so light hearted here… So much family. So much love. It wasn’t like that before. I’m sure the others are adjusting too because it really isn’t like how it was. Not when you really got to the underbelly of the beast. The twins Lucian and Nerezza were probably too young to know that side of her or if they did they were able to forgive it once they got here. It’s just odd remembering it.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:48 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Warmth spread through Iris as Nathaniel brushed her hair behind her ear. It was a light and feathery touch, but she loved the gentle sensation. "I'm going to hold you to that," she said. "I don't like trying to figure it all out on my own," she insisted. "I'll do my best to explain from now on. I don't ever want you to feel that depressed on my account again."

The Keeper's Avatar smiled and looked toward the sky again. She pointed out a collection of stars. "That's the Wolf's Head," she said pointing. As she did so, the Occulus seemed to zoom in on the sector of the sky where the Wolf's Head filled up the sky. 

"The Wolf always chases Parvpora. Long ago it is said that the two were lovers. Now his eternal cry calls out to her as he tries to catch up to her in the night," she said. "And three… two… one…" 

As Iris finished her countdown, the long bright tail of a meteor streaked past the Wolf's Head, closely followed by another, and then another, and soon the entire sky was alive with streaks of light. 

"The Himiria Meteor Shower," she said. "It comes around every year about this time," she said as she settled down onto the floor of the Occulus to watch, large cushions appearing to provide them with some comfort. 

Author: Nathaniel, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 10:01 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

His eyes softened as he grabbed her hand and he gave her a confident smile for the first time since that awkward kiss. “At least if I had known that then I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did. You might be able not to feel and you might be confused Iris but I’m not. I just sometimes forget that you are new to the world and everything in it including emotions. That means I have to teach you and be careful… It also means that I cannot get so easily upset if it appears like I offend you because often that is not the case if at all.”

He brought her closer to him when she hugged him. Offering a gentle smile he nodded. “It’s called getting overwhelmed Iris and it’s normal. It’s not that you are confused but rather overwhelmed because you don’t know what to think.” He pushed her hair back softly with her fingers. “That’s why I’m going to help you figure it out. When you feel like that don’t shut it off but tell me and we’ll talk through it instead. That way you can learn to understand what you are feeling or maybe get the answer you are looking for.”

He frowned for a moment and nodded. “It was lonely for me too… I have to admit I thought Mother was going to throw me in a bath if I didn’t come out of my sulk soon.” He made a jest at himself. “I hadn’t bathed since that happened and I admit that when I get depressed I do not handle it like my mother… but still, I should have realized that’s what happened and not just assumed like I did.”

Nathaniel let Iris go as soon as he pulled away and his green eyes looked up as soon as he prompted her. “Well… I don’t know much about constellations but how about we go with your favorite and then later you can teach me about them? How about that?” He gave her another smile as he tried to make her feel better about everything. “Then lead the way, Iris.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:43 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

She noticed right off he was still keeping his distance from her and she didn't like it. She didn't want him to run away from her. She reached out and lightly grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently.

"I have yet to learn what offends me," she told him truthfully. "Even if you had asked, I don't believe it would have changed the result," she said. "I… I don't know what my feelings are," she told him. "It makes me feel confused how I can feel so much in a moment. It hurts when I am confused, so when I am confused, I choose not to feel," she told him. "It makes things easier. But there are times when feeling is nice. I didn't dislike it, you didn't hurt me or offend me," she told him honestly. "I just didn't understand what it meant, and didn't understand your body language or mine."

She gently hugged his arm. "I do know that when you ran away, I didn't like it. I wanted you to talk to me, to be my friend and mentor like before. I didn't understand what had happened and I had thought I made you mad at me somehow," she said. "It was… lonely."

She let go of him and turned away and looked up and out at the night sky all around them. "Pick a constellation," she urged him, a bright smile on her face in the dim of the Occulus under the pale light of Canelux and Parvpora. "There is something I want to show you!"

Author: Nathaniel, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:27 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

His heart skipped miles when he saw her looking down at him. Their eyes met for the first time in days and he felt like he had lost the ability to breathe. He chuckled a bit at how upset she was and shook his head full of red hair. “No, it’s alright. I probably would have just ignored him if he hadn’t bit me.” He had been asking so down in the dumps until he read the letter and realized she wasn’t upset with him. “Very much so thank you, Iris.” He offered her a soft smile as he rolled his sleeve back down.

For a few moments, Nathaniel lost his smile as he began to think. “I should have asked before I did it but I think my mother’s blood got my best of me. Impulsiveness seems to run in the family. I should have taken your feelings into consideration before doing such a thing, Iris. That’s why I was so upset when you said that.” He offered her a smile. “I was much more worried that I had offended and hurt you than if you had hurt me.”

His mind was turning gears and he skipped a beat if only for a moment as he kept his distance for the time being. “I didn’t find it unpleasant. I’ve just never kissed anyone and absolutely meant it before. I suppose it was a rather large shock for myself to discover at the same time.” His voice was soft as he reached up and rubbed his neck, a very typical Angela move when embarrassed. “I am still sorry that I moved without first asking you. It is not a very gentleman thing to do at all. I suppose I was just excited and I hadn’t thought about if you possibly felt the same way or not.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:58 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Iris was at the top of the spiral staircase that went around the inside of the Occulus and looked down as Nathaniel came up on the floating platform. He and Angela had their times when they seemed so alike, but this was certainly a huge difference. He was not afraid to be off the ground. She smiled down at him and lightly came down the crystaline steps to the main floor. 

"I didn't tell him to bite you!" she said as she came over and looked at his arm, a concerned expression on her face as she looked at the angry red needle marks from where her personal messenger had tried to get his attention. A pale warm glow enveloped her hand as she gently ran it down the back of his forearm and wrist, healing the aggravated bite marks that were full of the pseudo-wyvern's less than potent venom. Her touch was tender as she worked. 

"I'm sorry. I should have just come and invited you myself," she said apologetically as the magic in her hand faded and she released his arm. "Better?" she asked looking up at him, a small smile on her lips. It was nice to have him there in the same room talking to her, even though only a few words had been spoken. 

"I owe you an apology," she said quickly before anything else could be said. "I said something hurtful in the nursery, and I was completely unaware of your feelings. I didn't mean it they way it sounded… I thought YOU found it unpleasant. But I mistook your nervousness for displeasure. I am very sorry if I hurt you!"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:35 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

“Emotions are complicated and sometimes certain emotions appear to look one way when they really mean another. We call that miscommunication. You simply read the situation wrong something that everyone does once in a while Iris.” The Mother gave her a smile and watched as she dropped her head on the table. “You are going to rattle whatever is in your head and regret it…” She jested the poor girl and showed a smile to show she was joking.

The girl’s reaction to her shattering the mirror was expected. She was glad that Iris got the idea. “Nothing in this world is impossible to fix.” She smiled a bit. “There’s always a solution of some sort even if it seems hopeless. Sometimes it just takes time and a lot of people working together.”

Angela waved her hand a bit and she smirked. “Don’t worry about it. It’s what I’m here for after all. Council with a goddess is a not a normal thing but council with a mother is another thing. I am after all the other half of your creator Iris that means you have full rights to use me as someone to talk to whenever you need to.” She returned the girl’s hug and kissed her cheek. “Good luck Iris.”

Nathaniel was in his room at the temple when the Wyvern showed up. “I don’t want to know what you are bringing me.” He was utterly defeated as he laid face down on the bed. The Wyvern came over and bit him repeatedly until he took the letter. “Alright, alright Little One. What a ferocious bite you have.”

He rolled onto his back and looked at the letter. His heart skipped a beat and he pulled himself from the bed. “I suppose I should… bathe or something.” He had been so depressed lately he hadn’t been taking care of himself, so he moved to go do so.

Once he was properly dressed he waited for nightfall and made his way to the Occulus. “Iris?” He said wondering where she was. He knew her handwriting by now and even the paper had smelled like her. “I got your message… and you know a few dozen bite marks.” He rolled up his sleeve to show them and chuckled nervously. “You have my full undivided attention now.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:24 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

At this realization, Iris froze, and looked at Angela. "You… you mean he wasn't repulsed for having to teach me that?" she asked incredulously. She sighed again, this time planting her forehead squarely on the table, and lifted and dropped her head with a thud, thud, thud, on the heavy wooden table, an action that was not typical of Drae or Angela at all. 

She looked up from where she had placed her head, her chin resting rather uncomfortably on the table as Angela decided to teach her with an object lesson. The mirror appeared in her hand, and Iris recognized it as something Angela treasure dearly. The next thing she knew, it was dashed to pieces upon the floor. She felt her heart lurch and a sharp cry of something near anguish escaped her lips as she stared at the shattered pieces of quick silver upon the stone ground. She looked at Angela astonished at what she had just done, but the Goddess did not seem phased, her words leaving a deep impression upon Iris's mind as the Mother waved her hand over the mirror and it reformed itself and floated back into her hand, completely unharmed. 
It was within her power to fix something perceived as impossible…

She felt a renewed sense of vigor at this revelation and she immediately perked up as Angela explained the metaphor, and the myriad of things she could do to find a way to make it up to Nathaniel. She might have to step outside her range of comfort (though she wasn't sure she HAD a range of comfort quite yet) in order to make him stay and listen, but it might be necessary to make things right. Iris nodded fiercely and stood up, looking much happier than she had when she had first come to sit down. 

"I think I know what to do now," she said. "Thank you, Lady Angela… having someone to talk to about everything made it a lot easier to comprehend," she said, going so far as to give the Goddess a hug (something Nathaniel had taught her was a way of showing thanks to those closest to you). She lightly tickled Poppy and Larkspur as she passed them before she summoned some milk flowers from the garden and gave them to the babies to suck on while Angela worked. 

Feeling a new sense of purpose, so to speak, Iris quickly finished putting away her books before she dashed off to her personal chamber and sat down at her work desk. Pushing all sorts of translation work and charts aside, she grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and a blotter before she snatched up a quill and scrawled across it in elegant hand.

Nathaniel

Night fall in the Occulus.
Please come. 

She folded the short letter and melted some wax before she sealed the note and gently blew on the seal to cool it. Once done, she turned to the small cat-sized wyvern that was perched on a nearby window sill and with a quick word of instruction sent the message on its way with the small creature. 

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:28 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Angela tilted her head again at Iris. “It sounds like he was nervous Iris not repulsed. He was nervous on if you would like it or not. When people are nervous they sweat and act weird. Sometimes they act uncomfortable even if they want and like the action. Should have seen Adraejen when we first got together. My first break down he was nearly gone because he wasn’t understanding.”

A few words left Angela’s lips in the Rosenite language. “Only humans can’t repair mirrors, Iris.” She got up and summoned her most beloved mirror. “You recognize this?” She threw it on the ground and watched as it shattered into hundreds of pieces. “Humans can’t put this back together… but you… him… me… even Adraejen.” Angela waved her hand and the mirror began to piece back to together. “We have the magic to do so where most humans do not. It is a human concept to not try and fix something just because it looks impossible.”

She placed the mirror aside. “Shoved up his ass is a metaphor, Iris. It means you shouldn’t leave him alone until he gets the message. Tell him. Write him a letter and stick it in his room. I could tell you a hundred different ways of doing it. My most favorite is just being honest and getting him to listen to you. Would do you good to order him to listen to you, even if that isn’t something you are comfortable with. You have to understand that there comes a time when you must do it. Even now Adraejen and I fight but you and everyone else doesn’t know it. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like to fix things that we messed up. Owning responsibility is never easy.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:20 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Iris looked at Angela, largely confused by her words. She hadn't thought the kiss offensive. She hadn't understood the motion at the time, however. She thought back to what she might have said, and her eyes went wide. 

"Oh… I… I did call it unpleasant…. but I didn't mean that I found it unpleasant…" she said. "He acted like he was repulsed by the action… tense, and stiff, like he didn't want to do it at all. I…I thought HE was the one who found it unpleasant, and apologized that he had to teach me something like that…" she said. She buried her face in her hands, feeling completely defeated. "I don't understand… it hurts when I don't understand…" she said softly. "I don't like the way it feels when I don't understand… so I make it go away. I didn't understand his kiss… so I pushed the feelings away and now he won't talk to me…" 

She felt Angela's hand petting her hair and found some strange sort of comfort in the motion, and for a brief moment the confusion was quelled in a way that felt better than when she pushed the feelings away. 

She looked up at Angela, her eyes shining as if to cry. It did not happen though. Crying was still a foreign concept to her, much like laughing was. 
"Shattered his world? Like shattering a mirror? But… that is not something you can fix," she said slowly. It was clearly rhetorical, but Iris was unsure of how it would apply in rhetoric. She sighed. "I am too big to do something like that, and it would be incredibly unpleasant for the both of us, I think," she said clearly missing the point of the last suggestion in a typical Iris way. 

"How… how do I make him see that I wasn't offended?"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 6:35 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Angela tilted her head at Iris and frowned a bit at her. “It might take time… but I also think he thought you were offended by it. Your reactions to him kind of… stunned him. He was trying to be true with you and I think it scared him, Iris.” She pets Iris’s hair and smiled. “He’ll come around I promise.”

Thinking about her son she seemed a tad frustrated. “He would honor you until the day he died. That’s the type of person he is… and if he thinks he ruined your honor in any way like if you reacted in a way he thought was negative… he would run away from it and clam up. Which is exactly what he did Iris.”


Scratching her head she tried to think of what else it could be. “He’s not used to trying to win anyone over. Everyone has always just thrown themselves at him but when he kissed you… I think he thought you rejected him and it shattered his world for a moment. I think it’s good for him but that would be cruel, wouldn’t it? Things often don’t go the way you want them too and Nathaniel has lost a lot of time with being dead. I just think you need to give him time and eventually he will try again or you could be up his ass and try and make him see.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 10:50 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Iris listened quietly as Angela explained about Nathaniel and the traits he got from his father. He sounded like a very caring man, and Iris felt like she would have like to have met him. Her eyes were lowered and she was looking at her hands as Angela told her about her son. When she said that Nathaniel had already come to talk to her about it, Iris lifted her head, her eyes big and earnest. Angela didn't make eye contact with her at first, and it bother Iris. 

The words that Angela spoke confused her even more. Nathaniel cares for her? At least Angela thought so. But Iris couldn't understand. Everything she had learned about affection and the relationships indicated that if someone had feelings for another person, they would be closer to the object of their affection, not try to shy away. Iris had never felt that being around Nathaniel had made her any less, and if anything she felt that being around Nathaniel helped her to feel free rather than burdened the way these confusing feelings made her. 

"But… that… that isn't how I feel. I not supposed to be an object of devotion… not like you and Master Drae… I don't want him to put me on a pedestal," Iris said slowly, the confusion coming out in her voice. "I… I just want him to talk to me again…"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 10:28 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

She chuckled a bit at Iris. “But it might not have that sort of effect on you. Remember I made you as well and my alcohol tolerance is legendary.” She winked at the girl and sighed a bit. “Honestly, you worry as much as Nathaniel does. If you two did less worrying and more living you might get somewhere.” Angela flipped the page on the book she was reading.

“Oh, he is very much a stick in the mud just like his father.” She smiled at Iris and winked once more. She ignored the question for a few. “Just like his father was. Marius was one for rules and honor. He did whatever he had to for his family. He died three times for us. One time he burned alive just to save Thaniel and I. Nathaniel has a lot of Marius’s qualities. Even though it's admirable he is a stick in the mud because of it.”

It was after that when the smile left her face. “He’s already come and talk to me about it. I told him I would most definitely be telling you about it and he got upset at me. So I told him if the day came and you came to me to talk about it I would support you.”

Her eyes were on the paper. “Iris, you’ve done nothing wrong. Nathaniel…” It was hard to put it into words. “I feel like he feels about you the same way Drae feels about me. He just doesn’t want it to ruin your honor and refuses to say it… So in order to keep you pure he had backed away from you. He doesn’t think he deserves these things he has with you. Is he right? No, personally I think he’s being stupid but that’s what his father would do. Hell, that’s why Marius and I aren’t married anymore. Besides the fact, we can’t stand each other for various reasons. We used to be in love… like Drae and I am.”

She reached over and fixed a strand of Iris’s hair. “You gotta give Nathaniel time… He’ll come around. Right now he thinks that he is a burden on you… that he isn’t worth your time. He has placed you on a pedestal so high… I think he loves you more than he will ever love me or his sister. This is all speculation but… He does care about you more than I’ve ever seen him care before.”

"You are truly his goddess Iris. That's what I believe."

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 10:17 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Iris nodded as she stared the flask that she turned around in her hands before she twisted off the top and took a small sip. The sweet, sharp, and earthy liquid slipped down her tongue and she swallowed slowly, enjoying the taste. "I don't drink a lot… I understand alcohol has a poor effect on Master Drae, it would only make sense that I might share the same weakness," she said as she put the flask back up on the table in front of Angela. 

She shook her head when Angela spoke of Nathaniel as being troublesome, or being a stick in the mud. "No, he's none of those things!" she said quickly coming to the Rosenite boy's defense. "It's just… Have I… Have I done something to upset him?" she asked slowly looking up at Angela, looking almost pained. "I… I don't know… he just… It feels like he's been avoiding me. And… I don't know why. Was it something I said, or did?" she asked. "Before, he always would talk to me about what I was learning, and was always quick to correct me when I made mistakes… but now… I don't know… I just don't understand. Why does it bother me so bad? I wouldn't think twice about it if it were Master Drae or anyone else…"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 10:01 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

“I already read the journals. They aren’t helping at all.” She frowned at Iris. “Most of them don’t contain the single thing I need that is key. Most information on it is simply legends. Legends have some truth to them but it's dividing the truth from the bullshit.” She chuckled a bit. “It’s not Adraejen’s fault if he doesn’t know, it simply means he doesn’t have it in his possession.”

The goddess gave Iris a nod. “You reflect him and me at times but that is because you are made up of elements from the both of us. It would stand to be theorized that you would take up things that we do as quirks.” Angela watched her for a moment. “For example, instead of drowning your sorrows away like a certain used to be urchin we all know and love, you’ve fiddled. I fiddle when I am not sure what to do about something that is on my mind.” For a moment she stopped and thought, “Children do the same thing. It’s because they are learned behaviors. It doesn’t mean you aren’t your own person Iris. Just means you take after us more than most do.”

She let Iris figure out what she meant and nodded. “Ahhh… Boy troubles. That is typical for a girl of your biological age. My son is a troublesome one, isn’t he? Tell me what is bothering you about my stick in the mud son.”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 9:51 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Iris made a face. "It looks like he got you the most… official volumes on the subject," Iris answered. "But I guess they are not suiting your needs. I do believe that there may be a collection of journals by former deities that may prove useful," she replied. She fell silent for a moment, her mind rather irritatingly turning back to her conundrum with Nathaniel, and the look on her face was more than clear of her frustration. Angela even called her out on it. 

"Was I mimicking Master Drae's face?" she asked, but then thought it might have been more rhetorical than that, simply that the expression she was making was similar. It didn't matter, Angela seemed to understand that something was bothering her, and she was immediately offered a seat at the table as well as a small flask of wine. Iris pursed her lips a bit and sat down as she had been directed and took the offered flask. But rather than drinking from it, she fiddled with it at first, something different than what Drae would have done. She looked up when Angela asked in the strange way. 

"Nothing. Nothing is eating me. Nothing in this Library except Tar Eisalae itself has the capacity to eat me… unless you count the dragon in the Conservatory…" she said slowly trailing off. "But that isn't what you meant… you are asking me what is wrong…" she said, coming to the understanding on her own. She sighed. "It's Nathaniel…"

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 9:35 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Angela was researching spacial magic. The type of magic that only deities could completely cast with comprehensive understanding. There was only one book in the entirety of Drae’s library and it was infuriating. “Tell your daddy to be better at finding books I need.” She reached over and played with the twin’s hands. There were several larger books by her that explained the theories that mortals had on it. Only one tome was from a god that actually had done it. Of course, for deities like Angela, they could do it almost flawlessly. Her Gardens were a good example of that. Temples were done almost without thought but if she wanted to do something by force she would need to know how to harness that ability.

When Iris came over Angela smiled up at her and shook her head. “Not unless that useless Master of yours knows about spacial magic more than these books.” She chuckled a bit to show she was joking.

After a moment she looked back up at Iris and smiled. “Something is bothering you. You have the same damn look on your face when Drae is over thinking things. Come sit and talk to me about it.” She pulled out a flask. “This has some wine in it. It will help you unwind.” She winked at Iris as she kicked out a chair with her free leg. “What’s eating you?”

Author: MirrorMirror, Posted: Fri Aug 4, 2017 9:28 PM, Post Subject: I'm Trying to Understand [P]

Over the next week or two after the twins were born, things were sufficiently busy for Iris, and she certainly wasn't complaining. However, something else had changed. While she had been expecting things to be busy with the new additions to Master Drae's family, there was one thing that she hadn't really expected. Nathaniel seemed to be avoiding her. She didn't want to put too much stock into it. Maybe he was just as busy as she was, maybe he just hadn't noticed her being in the area, but he had barely acknowledged her. If he had, it was brief and almost distant, as though he didn't want to be around her. It was perplexing, and Iris found that she was missing his company. While her work kept her busy, before she could at least go and talk to Nathaniel about the things she was learning. He'd always seemed interested in her progression. 

But now, not so much. The new Avatar sighed as she shelved some books that had been left out by Master Drae and other patrons of Tar Eisalae's extensive library, and as she did so, she had a thought. Had she done something to offend Nathaniel. She was still learning things about human nature and how certain things could make people upset, but she couldn't be sure what it was she had done. Someone had always been quick to explain to her. But not in this case. 

She bit her lip and shelved the last book before she moved back towards the main section of the Library. As she did, she felt a familiar wash of energy. While she wasn't quite able to sense immediately when people entered the Temple Library, Iris had become very familiar with a couple of energy signatures; namely Lady Angela, Master Drae and many others of their family. Iris rounded the corner of the shelves and saw Angela with several large tomes, Poppy and Larkspur in tow. 

"Oh, Lady Angela! Is there anything I can help you find?"