Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 15:50:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: LOG: Alex & Rhys on Yarro

[ When we last left our heros, Alexandra Behrens had just traveled to a
province on Yarro where she suspected she might find Rhys Kell.... ]

Having come to a bad part of town on Yarro in search of Rhys Kell, Alex wanders
   the dark and dangerous streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person she
   seeks.
   
Whilst wandering, she passes many seedy looking characters, all of whom scowl
   or glare at her. She ignores these people and continues on her way. She is
   surprised, however, when a large, burly, dirty man falls into step behind 
   her.

Rhys exits the door quietly, carefully closing the door behind him, and sincing
   his gloves on tighter. After glancing around briefly, he begins to calmly 
   walk down the street, tying the small bag he carries to his belt.

Alexandra glances over her shoulder at the man who grins leeringly at her. She
   faces forward again and quickens her pace...not scared, simply wary. The man
   speeds his steps as well.

She continues walking for a number of blocks, the man shadowing her...always
   remaining the same, careful distance behind her. Turning a corner, she 
   realizes her mistake as soon as she begins down the dark, deserted street.
   Heavy footsteps fall behind her. He's still following her.

Rhys falls into a smooth step, aware of his surroundings, and looking far too
   confident to draw trouble. His lips are set in a terse smile, and he seems
   to be reviewing something in his head.

Halfway down the block, the man makes his move. He rushes her from behind,
   surprisingly agile for a man so large, and grabs her arm, spinning her 
   around to face him roughly. "What's a pretty little girl like you doing in
   a place like this?" he breathes into her face. Alex grimaces and turns her
   head from the stench of his breath. Catching a breath of fairly-fresh air,
   she replies "Ah don't rahtly think that's any o' yer bizness." She stares
   levelly into his black, bloodshot eyes.

Rhys pauses for a moment to get his bearings, and gives a slow panning glance
   over the entire street, mumbling to himself, "Quiet, sleepy. Good. I may
   pull this one off smoothly, too..."

The man takes her by both shoulders and lifts her slightly off the ground.
   "Hey! Whut're ya doin'?" she protests, her feet dangling just barely above
   the ground. "Didn't your momma warn you about places like this? And people
   like me?" He grins wickedly at her.

Rhys turns suddenly, cocking his head to one side and listening carefully,
   symbiont-enhanced hearing straining for sounds.

Alexandra remains calm and swings her legs slightly, trying to regain purchase
   with the ground. She says firmly "Ya'd be best off t' set me down, mistah...
   ya don't know who yer dealin' with.." 

In response, the man throws his head back and laughs loudly. Then, quick, 
   almost as quick as a fully adapted Guild member, he snaps his head forward
   and tears the sleeve off one of her shoulders. With an indignant sound, Alex
   exclaims "Star Lady Bright on a Stick!" and glares at the man, who leers at
   her. She says "Oh, now ya've done it..." With that, she draws her knee up 
   with all of her symbiont-enhanced strength into his groin area, hoping that
   that is indeed where these Yarrans keep their valuables. 

The man either doesn't feel the pain, or is too stupid to acknowledge it. He
   tightens his grip on her shoulders and sneers "Feisty, ain'tcha?!" and tears
   her sleeve some more.

Rhys lets out a slow breath as he catches scattered sounds on the wind. He
   begins talking to himself softly, "Just walk away, boy. You don't have time
   for this..." Even as he speaks, he finds himself slowly moving across the
   street towards the sounds.

"Jeez!" she hollers and brings her arms forward, pushing out against the
   insides of her captor's arms, breaking his grip on her. She drops to the 
   ground with an almost feline grace and stands slightly crouched, her arms
   out in front of her. "Ah'm warnin' ya...jest walk away. If'n ya don't...yer
   dead." The man's already ugly face, turns even uglier as he sneers "What 
   are you going to do, little girl?" He lunges at her and they lock arms,
   scuffling along the empty street.

Rhys quickens his pace slightly as the voices become louder. He slows slightly
   as he slips into the darkness of the blind alley.

Surprised by her strength, and her resistance, the man grapples with Alex. He
   pulls back one hand and slugs her squarely in the eye. Alexandra yelps and
   pulls her head forward again, letting loose a stream of profanity. "Ya
   freggin' bastard!!" she shrieks. "How DARE you hit me?! Ah'm gonna rip yer
   fardlin' eyes out!" She throws herself against him, trying to knock him off
   balance.

Rhys walks slowly into the alley, his shadow lengthening from the minimal light
   along the street. His voice is soft and clear in the night air, "Perhaps you
   should just walk away, sir. The lady does not appreciate your company."

Rhys' warning goes either unheard, or unheeded. The two continue scuffling.
   Alex, not a very experienced fighter, throws powerful, yet wild punches at
   her adversary, doing little or no damage. The man belts her another one in
   the mouth.

Alexandra grunts and is knocked off balance. She falls backward and lands on
   her back. She blinks a little dazedly and wipes the blood from her mouth.
   The man closes in on her, intending to finish what he's started.

Rhys covers the distance in two long strides, then grabbing his arm as he pulls
   back for another swing at the woman, holding it firmly. The man turns into
   the cold green eyes of Rhys Kell, as he speaks, "Perhaps you didn't hear
   me..."

The man looks at Rhys and replies gruffly "Why don't you mind your own
   business, boy?" and tries to pull his arm free from Rhys' grasp. Alex lies
   on the ground, still dazed and not really watching what's happening.

Alexandra looks at the blood on her hand. "Sumbitch hit me.." she mutters,
   apparently fascinated by the red liquid smeared across her hand.

Rhys begins slowly pulling the man's arm back further, forcing him to bend,
   despite his best efforts; the effects of months of working out and Rhys's
   adaptation far outstripping the man's strength, "I'm _making_ this my
   business. Now walk away...." His eyes harden even more as his grip tightens. 

The man grunts as he's bent to Rhys' will. He swings wildly with his free arm,
   hoping to contact with Rhys' head.

Alexandra shakes her head and looks up at the man, being bent over. She doesn't
   even notice the man who's come to her aid. "Ya sumbitch!" she bellows and
   leaps to her feet. She rushes his face and seems very intent on popping his
   eyeballs out of their sockets.

The fist is caught squarely by Rhys's hand, which he immediately bends foward,
   dropping the man to his knees as his wrist is bent backwards. He calmly
   notes the activity of the woman, and releases his grip on the man's wrist,
   and holds out an arm to stop her.

The man, surprised by this attack on his being by both strangers, starts
   bellowing and screaming. "Get her away! Let me go!!"

Alexandra bats at Rhys' arm, "Let me at' im!" she screams, trying to push her
   way past.

Rhys turns to face the man, and stops, suddenly recognizing the voice of the
   woman, the man on the ground momentarily forgotten, "ALEX??!"

Alexandra growls animalisticly as she strains to get at her attacker. Her
   struggles stop completely as she hears her name and she blinks, looking up
   at Rhys. "Rhys!"

The man takes this opportunity to scramble away. He takes to his heels and runs
   as fast as he can, disappearing around the corner. His voice trailing behind
   him: "They're both crazy!!"

Rhys stares at her for a moment, then snaps into a realization, breaking into a
   fast run behind the man, "He knows my name..."

Alexandra blinks as Rhys tears after the fleeing man. She sprints to catch up.
   "Wait!"

The man has slowed to a jog, not realizing he's being followed.

Straining his body, Rhys rapidly devours the distance between the running man
   and himself, launching himself at the man when he gets within distance, the
   kick landing squarely in the small of the other man's back.

The man grunts, bones snap, and he falls flat on his face, unconscious.

"Oh Lady Bright!" Alex breathes as she catches up and looks at the fallen man.
   She stands a few feet away.

Rhys doesn't even check on the man's status as he drags him into an alley. Alex
   runs around the corner just in time to hear Rhys's voice, cold in the night,
   "Nothing personal." A snap like a carrot being broken in half is heard as
   Rhys twists the man's head on his shoulders past its limits.

She raises a hand to her mouth, feels stickiness and pulls her hand away,
   remembering now that this man hurt her and had every intention of hurting
   her further. She jumps as she hears the snap of the man's neck being broken
   and breathes "Oh mah word...." She turns and dashes around the corner again,
   stopping to lean against the building there. "He killed 'im!" she whispers
   to herself.
Alexandra blinks, thinking to herself, "Maybe this wasn't a good idea," and
   starts jogging along the street, away from the alley where Rhys disposed of
   her attacker.

Rhys pushes the body into the corner, and covers him slightly, silently
   thanking the Goddess that he still had his gloves on. Standing suddenly, he
   walks slowly around the corner, and sees Alex jogging away. Mumbling to
   himself, he begins chasing after her, "Goddess curse her. Why is she here?"

Alexandra hears the fall of running feet behind her and begins sprinting,
   thoughts such as "Oh Lady!! Maybe HE killed RHYS and now he's after me
   again!" running through her head. Illogical thoughts from her shocked mind.

Rhys swears again, as he sees her increased pace, 'I do _not_ have time for
   this...' Assessing the risk, he shouts, "Alex!!"

Alexandra looks back over her shoulder as her name is shouted. She slows again,
   but continues jogging. She calls out "Ah won't tell!"

Rhys stops running, but calls out to her again, "Damnit all, Alex! I won't hurt
   _you_! Get back here!"

Alexandra falters and stops. She turns around and looks back at Rhys. After a
   few moments of simply staring, she starts walking slowly back towards Rhys.

Rhys runs back up to Alex, grabs her hand and starts running again, "Come _on_!
   We've got to get out of here _now_!" He begins pulling her though a series
   of alleys and lanes, in a seemingly random pattern.

Alexandra doesn't try to withdraw her hand, instead running pell-mell through
   the darkened streets after Rhys.

Rhys stops in front of a well-used hovercar and opens the door for her, pushing
   her in gently, before running around and hopping in himself. Within moments,
   they are cruising out of the area.

Alexandra turns to look out the window, back toward the area they came from.
   "Mah rental..." She looks back at Rhys. "Ah...Ah left mah belongin's in mah
   rental..." She lapses into silence as she notices the intense look on Rhys'
   face and tries to shrink back into the cushions of her seat.

Rhys swears under his breath as he looks out at the road, "Where?" The word is
   devoid of any emotions whatsoever.

Alexandra replies in a small, quivering voice "Back neah wheah Ah....wheah that
   man...." she takes a breath. "Back theah." She motions with her hand.

Rhys turns the 'car smoothly and begins heading back in a non-linear path,
   slowing slightly as they enter the area, "Point it out."

Alexandra says flatly as she points. "Raht theah." Her finger points at a
   small, rented hovercraft.

Rhys pulls quickly up to it, and turns to her, "Get it, and follow me."

Alexandra blinks at Rhys and nods, quickly scrambling out of the car and
   hopping into the rental. She lifts off and turns the nose of the craft in
   the same direction as Rhys'.

Rhys pulls up to a quiet motel and waits for Alex to climb out and fall in step
   with him as he heads for one of the rooms, and opens the door, holding it
   open for Alex.

Alexandra, clutching the strap of her carisak, preceeds Rhys through the door
   into the room.
Alexandra stands quietly in the center of the room, looking straight ahead, and
   appearing the picture of a child awaiting a lecture or punishment.

Rhys sighs and discards some of his equipment in one corner before running a
   hand through his hair and turning to face you, "What in the name of the
   Goddess are you doing here?"

Alexandra looks over her shoulder at you and replies "Ah...Ah's lookin' fer
   you..."

Rhys sighs and sits heavily on the bed, "I thought I told you I was doing this
   alone, Alex...."

Alexandra turns, dropping her carisak on the floor and kneels on the floor
   beside your legs, blinking up at you. "Ya did...but...but Ah dint want
   nothin' t' hap'en t'ya an'..." She shrugs, looking down at the floor. 
Alexandra absently wipes at the dried blood on her chin with one, shaky hand.

Rhys frowns at you, then walks into the bathroom, coming out moments later with
   a wet cloth, and some disinfectant, "You'll heal fast, but we should clean
   you up." His voice is thawed slightly, and his eyes no longer seem as cold
   as before.

Alexandra nods mutely and reaches for the cloth and bottle as she turns her
   face up towards you.

Rhys frowns slightly and gently bats back your hands, gently swabbing at the 
   scrapes and cuts with the damp towel, "I can see the cuts...I'll clean 
   them..." He concentrates on cleaning and covering the wounds carefully, but 
   says little while he circles around you.

Alexandra nods again and drops her hands to her sides. She follows you with 
   her eyes while she trembles subconsciously.

Rhys continues cleaning slightly, his hands soft along your wounds, when he 
   finally speaks in a muted tone, "Why did you follow me, Alexandra?"

Alexandra blinkblinks and raises her eyes to yours, locking on. She swallows 
   and says "Ah..Ah was afraid you...you'd git hurt an' no one'd be heah t' 
   he'p ya." She frowns and blurts "Ah...Ah dint wanna lose ya."

Rhys almost smiles for a moment, before his face turns stoney again, and he 
   tends to another of your sightly gashes, which is already beginning to 
   heal. With a sigh, he looks at you, and frowns again, "Alex...I said this 
   was private. One way or another, I was going to finish this alone...I 
   didn't want anyone...especially you, involved..."

Alexandra pulls her head back and holds on to your wrist. "Whut if they'd hurt 
   ya agin, Rhys? Whut if they'd hurt ya so bad, ya couldn't git back t' 
   Ballybran? No one knew whar ya were...no one'd know whar t' come find ya 
   an' bring ya back. Ah...Ah dint want that t'happen, Rhys."

Rhys finishes up, and walks into the washroom, attempting to clean the 
   bloodstains from the towel. After splashing some water on his face he 
   returns and sits down softly beside you, his eyes almost sad as they lock 
   onto yours, "Alexandra..." His voice is much warmer than before as he 
   continues, "...you shouldn't be here. I don't know how you followed me, but 
   you shouldn't be here..."

Alexandra turns her face away from yours and says stubbornly. "Ah ain't 
   leavin'. Not without ya." She folds her arms across her chest.

Rhys stands with a sigh, and takes the small bag out of his larger carisak, 
   and places it in the refridgeration unit. He then strips off his shirt, 
   revealing a slight wound just below the ribs on his left side, and tosses 
   the shirt into a storage bag of some kind. He turns to face you again 
   suddenly, "Alex? Did you see what I did tonight?"

Alexandra looks up at you slowly from her seat on the floor at the foot of the 
   bed. She stares evenly at you. "Ah saw it."

Rhys looks hard into your face and speaks steadily, "What was your first 
   reaction, Alexandra?"

Alexandra climbs to her feet, never once looking away. "Honestly? Shock. It 
   scared me." She holds up a hand as you're about to speak and continues, 
   "But...that's a cause o' th' situation." She lowers her hand and speaks 
   slowly. "It scared me 'cause ya did to that bastard whut Ah wanted t' do."

Rhys walks across the room again, and reaches into his carisak, extracting his 
   crystal cutter, and begins almost absently cleaning it, but continues 
   speaking to you, "Alex...I didn't even think twice about it. You were mad. 
   I was not. I've been like this for weeks, Alex....":

Alexandra crosses the room, standing behind you and puts a cool hand to your 
   shoulder. "Ah know whut ya've been doin', Rhys. It's all ovah th' news 
   heah." She gently pulls on your shoulder, turning you around to face her. 
   "How d'ya think Ah found ya?"
Alexandra adds "I shorely wouldn'ta been walkin' 'round them streets if Ah 
   dint git an idear o' whar t' find ya.."

Rhys nods and sighs, "I haven't exactly been bothering to hide many of my 
   tracks. Luckily the authorities haven't figured out the common points 
   yet..."

Alexandra laughs humorlessly. "Th' authorities're morons. They tol' me all 
   sortsa stuff 'bout Yarro's serial killa. An' that he'ped me find ya." She 
   absently rubs her hand up and down your arm. "But they ain't gonna stay 
   stupid f'revah, Rhys. If Ah found ya, they c'n, too....event'lly."

Rhys nods and looks at the gleaming infrasonic blade on his cutter before 
   slipping it back into the plasteel housing, "That's fine. I only have one 
   more call to make..."

Alexandra lowers her eyes to the cutter, catching a glint of light off its 
   blade before it's enveloped in the housing. She drops her hand from your 
   arm as she looks back up into your face. "Ah'm goin' witcha, then." She 
   crosses her arms stubbornly over her chest once more, her stance rigid and 
   unrelenting.

Rhys turns quickly and glares menacingly at you, chopping one hand through the 
   air in front of you, "Absolutely not. I can't afford to have you there, 
   Alex..."

Alexandra glares back and slaps your hand away as it passes her face. "If ya 
   don't take me witcha, Ah'll jest follow ya." She steps in close, trying to 
   look imposing, and says quietly, inches from your face "Ya cain't shake me."

Rhys braces his body for the power surge and turns his crystal cutter on.

Alexandra's eyes widen as you power up your cutter, but she doesn't retreat. 
   She says coldly "Whut're ya goin' t' do? Cut me?"

Rhys glares at you, unconsciously steeling his arm as the cutter snaps on. His 
   voice drops to a quiet half-whisper, half-growl, "Don't try me on this one, 
   Alexandra...I can't take you with me." He looks down at the cutter as you 
   speak, and frowns, as if he didn't realize he had turned it on. He stammers 
   slightly as he speaks, "No..no, I..I wouldn't...couldn't hurt you, Alex..."
Rhys carefully turns his crystal cutter off and relaxes his stance.

Alexandra sneers. "Why not? Y'claim t'be a murderer now...A cold, unfeelin' 
   murderer.." She takes one step back and rips the front of her shirt open 
   and thrusts her torso toward you, head back, exposing her throat. "Go 
   on...slice mah head off!" she shouts angrily.

Rhys swallows slowly and frowns slightly, the coldness in his eyes changing to 
   something different. Hurt, perhaps? His hardened shoulders drop slightly as 
   he turns and crouches, placing the cutter in the bag. His voice *almost* 
   cracks as he quietly speaks next, "I...don't think so, Alex..."

Alexandra stands straight again, releasing her shirt and stares down at you, 
   crying now. "Why not, Rhys?" She starts stammering, having difficulty 
   speaking while she weeps. "Ah-Ah-Ah crossed ya, dint Ah? Ah-Ah did 
   somethin' ya din't w-w-want m-me t'do."

Rhys doesn't turn around as he continues organizing various small instruments 
   in the carisak, but continues whispering, "Because Alex..I care for 
   you...and you've just kind of got in my way a little and got yourself 
   involved in something you shouldn't. I can't really think about hurting 
   you, Alex, love..."

Alexandra falls to her knees beside you and grabs your shoulders, turning you 
   roughly towards her. "Dammit, l-l-look at me! Ah-Ah came heah t' he'p ya!" 
   She looks at you miserably, her fingers practically digging into the flesh 
   on your arms. "S-so eithah let me he'p ya...o-or come back home wit' me. 
   A-Ah don't care whut y'done heah...they deserved it...all of it."

Rhys turns and looks at you, smiling sadly, while cupping your chin lightly 
   with his fingers, "Don't cry, Alexandra...its just about over. Please, 
   love, can you just stay here while I do this?"

Alexandra shakes her head vehemently. "No! Y-Ya might not c-c-come b-back!" 
   She lets go of you, sits back on her heels and hangs her head, her hands 
   lying limply in her lap.

Rhys speaks evenly to you as he takes your hands in his and brings them to 
   his lips in a soft kiss, "No. I might not. But I have a better chance if I 
   don't have to watch out for you, too, Alex..."

Her head still hanging she whispers calmly, her tears subsided, "If ya don't 
   come back...Ah ain't goin' back t' Ballybran." She raises her head slowly 
   and looks at you sadly, resigned. "Theah ain't nothin' fer me on Ballybran 
   if you ain't theah."

Rhys frowns slightly and chuckles, before pulling you onto his lap and holding 
   you tightly, whispering in your ear, "Then I guess we'd better go back 
   together, hey?"

Alexandra turns toward you abruptly as you hold her and wraps her arms around 
   your neck and shoulders, clinging tightly to you. "Ah cain't lose you," she 
   whispers against your neck.

Rhys strokes your hair softly as he continues to hold you, "I'm not ready to 
   lose me, either, Alex...or stop seeing you."

Alexandra pulls her head back to look at you and says "Please? Take me
   witcha...Ah...Ah'll wait in th' hovercraft...mebbe ya'll need someone 
   t'drive if'n ya git hurt...Ah c'n h'ep..." she babbles.

Rhys sets his lips into a thin line and lets out a slow breath, "I still don't
   know, Alex...even that might get a little close...this isn't any kind of
   game..."

Alexandra slides her hands around to your front, flat against your chest. "Ah
   know it ain't a game, Rhys. Ah knew whut Ah was gettin' mahse'f infer when 
   Ah followed ya..." She gazes levelly at you, stubbornness and determination
   etched clearly in her eyes. "Ah'd do anythin' fer you, Rhys.." she concludes
   quietly.

Rhys places his hands over your own, and holds them to his body, shaking his
   head slightly, and smiling, his voice a warm whisper, "Sweet Alexandra...you
   could find someone far more balanced, I think..."

Alexandra blinks and leans her head in towards yours, placing a very light kiss
   on your lips. "Ah don't want someone more balanced..." she whispers.

Rhys blinks at you for a moment, a slow smile breaking across his face, before
   he bursts into laughter, pulling you against his body, and holding you on 
   his lap, "Thank you, I think..."

Alexandra grins and starts laughing, too. "Aftah all, Ah cain't be too well
   balanced mahse'f if'n Ah'm heah!" She hugs you tight.

Rhys keeps hugging you tightly, and stands fluidly, carrying you over to the
   bed and placing you on its edge lightly, before placing a soft finger on 
   your lips, "uhm...I should just go over a few things, Alex..."

Alexandra blinks, puckers her lips beneath your finger, the rough scab of the
   split lip her attacker gave her scraping your finger lightly and nods.

Rhys shakes his head as he looks over your face again, his lips setting firm,
   as he mumbles, "Stupid bastard...", before walking over to his carisak and
   rumaging around in it.

Alexandra sits quietly on the edge of the bed, watching you.

Rhys pulls out some timetables, maps and a small datapad, and walks over to the
   table, seating himself and spreading the map on the table. He unconsciously
   twirls one thin-bladed knife in his hand as he goes over something in his 
   head.

Alexandra blinks and continues watching you silently for some time. Finally,
   she speaks quietly, "Um..when are ya plannin' on goin' out ag'in?"

Rhys doesn't look up as he enters a few numbers on his datapad, and speaks
   flatly, apparently distracted, 'Hmmm? Oh. Next couple of days, I guess.
   I..._we_...", he looks up and smiles slightly, "...have to travel about 500
   or so klicks..."

Alexandra nods and stays quiet again for a few more minutes. "Uh...Rhys?"

Rhys hmms and looks up at you, tapping the blade lightly on the side of his
   head, "Yes, Alex?"

Alexandra's eyes shift to the blade then back to your face. "Will you,
   um...will you show me how t'fight?" She pauses and frowns. "Ah hate t'think
   whut woulda happened tonight if'n ya hadn't showed up..." She looks down at 
   her hands in her lap. 
Alexandra mutters quietly to herself, "Ah always lost fights t' mah brothers 'n
   sisters when Ah was little..Whut good does it do me t'be stronger wit' th' 
   symbiont if'n Ah doan know how t'use it?"

Rhys looks at the blade in his hand as if he just realized he had it, and looks
   back at you, "Me? I'm not a very good teacher, Alex...and what do you want 
   to learn?"

Alexandra looks up again. "At least how t' defend mahse'f better'n Ah did wit'
   that...that..." she flounders, searching for a good descriptive term.

Rhys looks at you blankly, and sets the datapad on the table, "Corpse. That's
   the thing, Alex. How much do you want to know? I know enough about unarmed
   fighting, and knife fighting now, but what do you want to do? Defend 
   yourself, or end someone else? Could you kill another being? Do you even 
   want to try to get to that point?"

Alexandra blinkblinks and stares quietly at you for a few moments before
   replying. "If Ah had had th' ability an' th' knowledge, Ah woulda killed 
   that creep tonight." Her blue eyes look as cold as ice. "Ah don't nevah 
   wanna be in a situation wheah Ah'm vulnerable ag'in." She blinks once more
   and nods at the blade in your hand. "Ah want ya t' show me how to use that."

Rhys takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, nodding somehow sadly. His
   voice goes quiet as he notices the look in your eyes, "Tomorrow we'll 
   start..." He drops his eyes immediately to the maps, and tries to immerse
   himself in them.

Alexandra nods and stands up. She disappears quietly into the washroom, closing
   the door behind her. You hear the shower start up.

Rhys looks up as the door closes and sighs heavily, swearing under his breath
   as he stands and moves toward the refridgeration unit, leaning against it, 
   and dropping his head for a moment, "Oh, Goddess..."

The water continues running for about 15 minutes. It shuts off, finally, and
   the room seems eerily quiet.
   
Rhys lies down on the bed and almost immediately nods off, the day's events
   finally catching up with him, as he mumbles to himself, "She shouldn't be 
   like this..."

Alexandra emerges from the washroom, towelling her hair dry. She stops just
   inside the doorway and watches you sleeping on the bed. She whispers "Ah'd 
   die for you, Rhys.." She blinks and tears her gaze from you, crossing to her
   carisak and pulling out a hairbrush, retreating to the bathroom.

Rhys starts at the noise of the hairbrush coming out of the carisak, and
   watches Alex retreat into the bathroom. He shakes his head slightly to clear
   it, and his voice tenatively calls out, "Alex?"

Alexandra leans back, looking through the door at you. She smiles. "Ah'm raht
   heah."

Rhys nods and slides back, sitting with his back against the wall. he clears
   his throat again, and looks up at you, "Uhm...I could comb out your hair...
   if you'd like..."

Alexandra blinks and looks at the brush in her hand, then back at you. She
   smiles again and pads out towards the bed. She hands you the brush and 
   settles herself on the bed in front of you, tucking the towel more firmly 
   between her breasts. "Ah ain't had mah hair brushed by someone else since Ah
   was a li'l girl."

Rhys smiles slightly as he begins brushing out the bottom couple of inches
   until all the knots are out, and begins moving slowly up, running his other
   hand along the rest of it lightly, "Well, I haven't done it in a while, but
   its very relaxing, so..."

Alexandra sighs in response, nodding her head slightly.

Rhys seems to drift off a bit as he finally works his way up so that he can
   take full strokes through your hair. His voice is very light as he talks, 
   "You have beautiful hair, Alex..."

Alexandra chuckles a bit and turns to look over her bare shoulder at you.
   "Thankee," she says, smiling.

Rhys smiles and looks into your eyes, and begins leaning forward a bit, before
   shaking his head, and continuing to brush out your hair, "Uhm...you take
   really good care of it. It hardly tangles at all..."

Alexandra puts her hand over yours to still it. "Ah..Ah think it's brushed out
   now..." Her cheeks are flushed and she drops her eyes from yours.

Rhys nods dumbly and hands you the brush, his one hand tracing lightly along
   your bare shoulder, "uhm...I should let you get dressed..."

Alexandra shivers, though the room is comfortably warm, as she raises her eyes
   to look at you once more. "Ah..uh....yeah..." she stammers, nodding. But she
   makes no effort to move.

Rhys swallows and leans forward for a moment, placing a feather-light kiss on
   your lips. He looks slightly nervous as he sits back again, "Alex? You 
   really should get dressed I think..."

Alexandra, her face red, holds the top of her towel and says quietly "Wh...whut
   if one...or both...of us don't..." She swallows and continues "Whut if this
   is th' last time we....we have...t'gethah?"

Rhys looks at you, his eyes softening to a warm green as he places one hand to
   the side of your face, "I'm not planning on dying, Alex...and I won't let
   anything hurt you..."

Alexandra closes her eyes and presses her face against your hand. She opens her
   eyes once more, "No body plans on dyin'..." she falters and says "That guy
   prolly dint plan on dyin' t'night..."

Rhys pulls you tightly against his body, and begins stroking your hair again,
   as you lean your head against his chest, "I'm sorry you had to see that..."

Alexandra wraps her arms around you, listening to your heartbeat. She shrugs.
   "He asked fer it..."

Rhys places one finger under your chin, and tilts your head up slightly,
   placing another feather-light kiss on your lips, "Maybe. He was just in the
   wrong place at the wrong time..."

Alexandra blinks and mutters "An' he picked th' wrong person t' pick on..." She
   slips a hand behind your head and pulls your face down to hers, kissing you
   with more force.

Rhys almost pulls back for a moment, before losing himself to the kiss and
   tracing one light hand along your bare thigh. He leans back and looks down 
   at you, whispering softly, "Dangerous move, that..."

Alexandra props herself up on one elbow, gazing back at you. "Aftah whut Ah've
   been through t'night?" she smiles slightly and shakes her head. "Ah don't 
   think so."

Rhys smiles and picks you up, careful to keep your towel intact, and lies you
   beside him, as he shuffles down to face you, leaning on one elbow, "That was
   him...this is me..."

Alexandra lays her hands flat on her stomach and smiles up at you. "Ah ain't
   fightin' you..." she mumurs huskily.

Rhys smiles almost sadly as he leans over you, "Perhaps you should...", and
   places a much more substantial kiss on your mouth.

Alexandra puts her arms around you and holds you to her, returning your kiss
   with equal fervor, clearly implying that she has no intention of following 
   your advice.
   
Rhys runs one hand along your side as he kisses you, holding himself up with
   the other elbow, as the other hand twirls in your hair. With a slight smile,
   he leans back and looks at you, "We keep this up, and I'll undo all the good
   work I did on your hair..."

Alexandra grins. "It don't hardly tangle, 'member?" She runs a finger lightly
   from your lips, down your chin, to your chest...

Rhys looks down over your still damp body, covered only in a towel, then back
   into your eyes, and sighs, running one finger along your lips, "You sure 
   about any of this, Alexandra?"

Alexandra meets your eyes, completely serious. "Ah'm not really sure 'bout
   nothin' anymore, Rhys. But Ah don't do nothin' Ah'd regret." She sits up a
   little, propping herself up on her elbows and looking at you. "Ah don't 
   regret followin' you an' comin' heah. Ah don't regret whut happened t' that
   man t'night. Ah don't regret bein' heah witcha now." She blinks and smiles a
   little. "An' Ah wouldn't regret anythin' else whut happens t'night, 
   neithah."

Rhys smiles and lies back, pulling you against his side, and half on top of
   him, "I should just be polite, but..." His hand wraps itself in your hair, 
   and pulls you down for a kiss, while the other hand traces over the towel
   along your back.

Alexandra runs the flat of her hand over your chest as she eagerly returns the
   kiss, pulling back slightly and grinning to say, "P'liteness is over-rated,
   anyhow..." She drops her head once more, kissing the hollow of your throat.

Rhys chuckles slightly as he leans his head back to receive more attention on
   his throat, still keeping one hand in your hair, caressing the back of your
   neck, as he begins tracing a single finger along the back of your leg, "I'll
   keep that in mind, if you do..."

[ And they comfortably spend their first night together. To be continued... ]

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End of CRYSTAL Digest 49
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