exsiliumlogs | (closed) a revelation in the light of day

Date & Time: dec. 11th.
Location: some small restaurant.
Characters: roslyn small and bariyan kozar.
Summary: the awkwardness of trying to strike up a friendship with a different version of your first best friend in this place cannot be summed up in words.
Warnings: none atm.

[ She'd missed Bariyan. Not in the burning ever present way that most people seemed to associate with loss, the way she'd once missed Lucy, or Adam, or her parents. She was older now, not quite the same person that she'd been when she lost them, and it had not been to death.

Or maybe she'd just told herself it hadn't been quite as bad, had pushed it down.

And now here he is, except it isn't him, and this isn't even the same as John because John seems to remain fundamentally the same person, he just doesn't remember her. Bariyan Kozar might share some similarities with Bariyan, but he is not the same person. Not from anything she could tell so far.

But she'd written him again nevertheless, asked him to meet her at a small out of the way restaurant, nothing fancy but the food pretty decent. If nothing else it would let her set everything to rest that his not-quite-return had brought up. Let her get some closure or something, maybe. He'd been her first friend here, her closest ally for months. His sudden disappearance had hurt, however much she'd tried to avoid acknowledging it. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He's certainly right in that Roslyn has always been good at holding emotions in check, and that she intends today to be no exception to that rule. She will maintain herself with dignity. He doesn't deserve any of this made more uncomfortable.

It is his face, and for a moment she just watches as he looks around, asks someone else. But then she stirs herself, stands up from her table and lifts a hand to get his attention. ]

Over here.

[ Bariyan looks up and beams at Roslyn. ] Ah! My apologies.

[ He takes a brief moment to bow to the woman he'd misidentified, then makes his way to Roslyn. He moves awkwardly; he's used to huddled campfires and crowded inns, not proper restaurants. He's also not used to moving around unarmored and unarmed. He has to fight to keep himself from reaching for an axe that's not there.

Before seating himself, he holds a hand out to Roslyn and nods to her. ]

Hello. It's good to meet you in-person.

[ She's cataloging a little bit, the things that are different about him now, what he does now that he didn't before.

But in the immediate moment she simply takes the hand he offers, shakes it before letting go again. ]

You as well. How have you settled in?

[ Bariyan seats himself carefully -- again, trying to account for a hefty bulk of armor and weapon that isn't actually there -- and then turns his smile back on Ros. ]

Well enough. It was hard-going at first. Especially with the move from... [ He points up, then down, and shrugs with a laugh. ] That. I had to find new rooms.

The finding new rooms was certainly an experience. They're not nearly as fond of us these days. [ Well. Beat. ] Not that they ever particularly were.

What have you been doing since you got down on the surface?

[ Bariyan's gotten the picture that, somehow, this isn't the land that most of the other transports expected -- but he'd never seen that version of Exsilium. So he wouldn't know. Besides, Bariyan's used to people reacting with displeasure upon his entrance.

He folds his hands together and makes a thoughtful noise. ]

Mostly working for my room... I'm with a family down, er, thataways -- [ vague gesture towards the door ] -- labor in exchange for housing and meals. [ Bariyan brightens up. ] They're being quite generous to me, considering that I don't have any money.

[ It's really not at all, but Roslyn finds she prefers snow to the constant rain. It's not very entertaining, but it's at least not the constant drizzling grey and the worry of radiation setting into your bones. ]

That's lucky, I know some people have had difficulty. It seems to help when you look human, at least.

It's true! And act it, too. I mean... the way humans here act. [ Bariyan taps his fingers against the table. His grin turns slightly glassy. ] Which, as it turns out, means not using magic. Even when you think it might help them.

[ Bariyan had freaked a few people out, his first day down. At least word hadn't spread. ]

Ah. [ A slight smile, amusement playing around her eyes. ]

You have magic?

[ Bariyan nods, then puts a finger to his lips. ] Not that you heard it from me.

[ He's settled in, now; he's at ease. So he figures he better get to the meat of this conversation. Bariyan leans back in his seat and smiles. ]

So... would you mind if I asked about you and me?

[ He raises an eyebrow. All right, so he can't help but be a little sassy about it. ]

[ She smiles, nods just a little bit. ] Of course not. I wouldn't know anything about magic, anyways.

[ Not a thing. Her smile's a little mischievous, and it only fades a little bit at his question, mostly just gaining a little thoughtfulness. ]

Not at all. It wasn't - we were friends only, if that's what you're thinking.

[ Bariyan's smile turns into an outright grin. He raises an eyebrow. ]

No reason why that can't change!

[ She laughs at that, takes a sip of her drink and raises a hand for the waiter. ]

I can think of at least two immediately. I'm already seeing someone and also I like women.

Oh! [ Bariyan turns and presses the back of his hand against his forehead, flinching, sagging in his seat. ] I hope the two of you will be happy -- but as for me, I'm stricken, and doomed to a life of tragic, unrequited love, it seems.

[ what is this person ]

Tragic unrequited love from only a few conversations? You move fast. [ amused, but.

what is this person. ]

(closed) a revelation in the light of day

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