[Intro]:

The last several days have gone peacefully for Kevlan Sharr, for once. Much
to the delight of his father, Kevlan has maintained regular contact with
him up on Shankill Station - and further, Kevlan and Berni have agreed to
Orynn's insistence that the two young Singers come to the Sharrs' homeworld,
Estenar, for much-needed rest. "A man needs 'is home soil an' 'is kinfolk
when he's lost ties t' 'imse'f," Orynn tells them, and Kevlan, feeling
several years' worth of homesickness, is more than willing to show his
home planet to his beloved... particularly now that she's expressed her
willingness to marry him still.

Kevlan and his father make the arrangements, booking passage on a fine shuttle
in advance, and packing enough belongings for an extended trip. Shyly, but
eagerly, Kevlan starts dipping into his credits to buy gifts for everyone
in his family - especially his father.

And although young Galahad looks forward to going home, there are still
two unresolved matters with him. One is his gitar, still clumsily played at
best... and as of yet unaccompanied by Kevlan's own baritone voice. And
the other is Rykos, of whom Kevlan has received no word since hearing that
Rykos had gone missing in the Ranges. The behavior of his friend at the
black crystal claim has continued to worry Kevlan, but at the insistence
of not only Bernadette, but also Tamber and his father, Kevlan has
regretfully kept himself confined to the Guildhall and not allowed himself
to go searching for the other young man, on the grounds that Kevlan needs
to finish the final legs of his own return to health.

But as it happens, Rykos comes looking for him.....

----------
You step out into the hallway.
White Quadrant
This gleaming white strip blazes in rainbow patterns: not the absence of color, 
  but the presence of all colors in the spectrum. The intensity of the 
  whiteness does not hurt your adapted vision but soothes it in a subliminal 
  manner. Several recessed doorways indicate the quarters of some singers. 
Contents:
Rykos
Obvious exits:
Turlough Suite  Sharr/Marshall Suite  Elissa's Suite  Diamond's Suite  Phil's 
  Homebase  Lifts  

The door to Kevlan's suite whooshes open, and Kevlan steps out, berobed and 
  with disheveled hair. He blinks, then smiles hesitantly. "Rykos....!"

Rykos
Rykos is dressed in a shimmering, midnight blue jumpsuit. Near the left 
  shoulder are three entwined spirals, one each of green, yellow and black. 
  They seem to twist in the light. His right arm is sheathed in and flat black 
  material from shoulderer to wrist. It seems to swallow the light. Black, 
  rubber soled shoes adorn his feet, making no sound as he walks.
You would guess that he is in his early twenties. His bright blue eyes shine 
  intensely and neatly cropped black hair is combed back off his face. He 
  stands about 5'10" but it is difficult to tell unless he is standing still. 
  Often he will be lost in thought, unaware of what is being said around him.


Rykos steps back quickly from the door as Kevlan walks out. He stands silently 
  for a moment.
Rykos looks at you for a moment.
Rykos smiles hesitantly. "Um..hello Kevlan."

Kevlan pauses by the doorframe, one hand up on the edge of the opening, his 
  body keeping the door from closing. He doesn't _quite_ manage a full grin 
  back, but he tries one, and his eyes are honestly pleased. "'lo theah... 
  you... wan' come in? Berni's sleepin'.... "

Rykos looks around a little nervously. "If it won't wake her up."

Kevlan considers, and says thoughtfully, "It might... she-she kinda needs the 
  nap. Ah could git dressed... "

Rykos nods. "I..um..I can wait here for you."

Kevlan(#1982POace)
From the tanned and lean look of him, and the way his actions seem to speak of 
  preternaturally acute senses, this tall and rangy young man can't be anything 
  but a Crystal Singer... and with his lazy, liquid drawl and half-shy, 
  half-forthright manner, he can't be any Singer but Kevlan 'Galahad' Sharr. 
  Kevlan's light brown hair is cut pragmatically short in the back but long in 
  the front, with random strands often getting in his smoky blue, dark-lashed 
  eyes. He frequently fidgets restlessly, drumming his fingers on any available 
  surface, or tapping his feet.

 His sandy brown hair is quite shaggy, obscuring his eyes most of the time, and 
  he often reflexively shoves it out of the way. In back, it brushes his 
  shoulders. He is casually garbed, in a loose-fitting collared shirt, breeches 
  that lace up the sides of his legs, and calf-high boots... clearly 
  comfortable apparel, what one might wear for leisure or travel. Whoever 
  designed these clothes was one of skilled hands, and a good eye for color 
  selected the subtle leaf-green of the shirt, the cloud-grey of the breeches, 
  and the delicate lighter grey of the boots. 

  His health seems to have dramatically improved as of late. Though he is still 
  a little too thin, he seems to no longer wear the look of one half-starved, 
  and his blue gaze is more alert and clear. Occasionally, he still seems 
  childlike and plaintive, and much, much shyer and somberer than usual.

Kevlan nods quietly, and ducks back into the room. He emerges a few minutes 
  later, fully clad, and shuffles one foot a bit before venturing, "So... 
  w-what brings yah by?"

Rykos looks a little scared. "I wanted to see if you and Bernadette were 
  alright." He shuffles a bit, still obviously nervous.

Kevlan's eyes soften, and he blushes a bit, but his voice is happy as he tells 
  you, "Berni, s-she still wants t' marry me...! An'... " His blush deepens as 
  he adds embarrassedly, "Ah, um, Ah-Ah-Ah been tryin' t' play mah gitar 
  again... "

Rykos smiles a little. "Thats good. I..I managed to play m..my flute again." He 
  adds softly, "..with Eve."

Kevlan looks up, brightening. "Ah didn't know you played... " He leans back 
  against the nearest wall, his head tilting slightly. "Who's Eve....?"

Rykos steps back to lean against the other wall. He looks down towards the 
  floor. "Sh..she helped me. After they found me in the ranges." His voice 
  turns to an almost shamed mutter. "I..I'm going to teach her to be a..a 
  singer."

Kevlan's blue gaze is quiet, and he offers, "Ah... was wondrin' what happened, 
  an' all... glad you're back."

Rykos nods slowly, still not looking up to meet your eyes. "I..I crashed. Don't 
  know why and I..I walked away from my sled. Got lost and had to..to hide in a 
  met station."

Kevlan shifts from foot to foot, his own mood growing slightly uncomfortable in 
  unconscious sympathy with yours. "That's a good thang... w-wouldn't wanna be 
  out in a mach storm that long."

Rykos shudders, "L..Lost track of the days. I..I don't even remember them 
  finding me. But they brought me back and made me better. Eve h..helped with 
  that bit."

Kevlan reaches a hand in your direction, seems to think better of it, and nods 
  solemnly. "She sounds like a nice gal... "

Rykos looks up a little at your hand then back at his shuffling feet. "Sh..she 
  is. I..I just feel wrong after everything wh..what happened."

Kevlan's brow furrows. "Well... you an' 'Landra an' Lhovrik, y'all seemed... 
  like you were havin' a tough time, yeah.... "

Rykos looks up and meets your eyes, his own a little pained and saddened. 
  "C..culd you do it? C..could yoush..share Bernadette with someone else?"

Kevlan blinks, and his face shifts slightly as he realizes what seems to be 
  causing you anguish. "Aww... aww, Rykos, is that what's frettin' you...? 
  Us... you a-an' me an' Berni, at th' claim?" He straightens a little, as if 
  considering stepping closer in an attempt to comfort, but he doesn't move.

Rykos nods sadly, his face full of shame, but a certain sense of relief at the 
  fact that you said it for him. "I..It seems wrong. Or..or at least not right, 
  wh..what we did. An..and I couldn't l..live with Tela doing it as well."

Kevlan blinkblinks again, looking rather puzzled. He shoves a hand through his 
  hair, straightening out a little, and lets out a thoughtful breath. Seeming 
  to think very hard, he tells you, "Well... Ah don't hold nothin' agin' 
  yah.... " His gaze settles on you, and for the second time since Kevlan has 
  returned from Hesperia - the first time being when he awoke at your black to 
  sing the crystal - the young Singer seems quietly confident.
Kevlan goes on, "Back home... folks say th' Lady... smiles on any joinin', 
  that's done when folks're joinin' with their hearts in it. An' this'un... 
  well, th' crystal was in it, too... " His voice turns husky, strangely 
  reverent. Starting to look as if he's embarrassed by his own sudden spate of 
  words, he finishes, "An'... Ah-Ah-Ah always kinda think th' Lady's in th' 
  crystal, so."
Kevlan shrugs lightly, and offers a smile.

Rykos shakes his head, "I..it wasn't how I was taught. I..I can't seem to 
  understand it. E..everyone else seems to an..and I just feel stupid. T..Tela 
  left b..but wants to share, th..then the crystal m..made us do that an..and 
  now th..theres Eve."
Rykos mutters softly, his voice breaking a little as a torrent of emotions run 
  through. "I..I just don't w..want to hurt her t..too" He slides down the wall 
  until he is siting, partially huddled on the floor, starig at his feet.

Kevlan bites his lip a bit, his brief spurt of almost eloquence giving way to a 
  more typical-Kevlan uncertain expression. "Ah... ain't sure what t' say... Ah 
  mean... Ah don' norm'ly share mahse'lf. Jes' ain't felt th' need... " He 
  trails off as you sink down; awkwardly, he edges closer, and crouches before 
  you.

Rykos makes no move to shie away from you, almost oblivious to your movements 
  towards him. "I..I just can't d..do it." He whispers, not daring to look up 
  at you. "W..Would you share Bernadette w..with someone else....if she 
  w..wanted to?"

Kevlan answers you honestly, "If Berni really wanted t' join with anothah 
  man... ain't mah place t' tell 'er no. 'Cause, see... " He pauses again, 
  seeming to struggle with his words, though his steady gaze suggests he's not 
  struggling with the concepts behind them; then he goes on, "... joinin', 
  well, that ain't quite th' same thang as pledgin' your life t' a lady, 
  y'know? Ah-Ah-Ah mean, 'specially if you gonna have a big ol' long life like 
  a Singer will anyhow."

Rykos looks on the verge of tears as he hunches up a little more. "Th..that's 
  what she said. B..but she said sh..she loved him. E..Eve's like m..me. She 
  d.,doesn't want to share, b..but I don't w..want to lose Tela."
Rykos looks up to you, tears forming in the corners of his eyes, one escaping 
  to roll down his cheek. "I..I think I..I love th..them noth a..and don't know 
  w..what to do."

Kevlan's eyes go dark in empathy... hesitantly, he touches a hand to your 
  shoulder. "Awww... don't fret.... "
Kevlan says huskily, "You should do... what your heart says is right."

Rykos shudders a little, much of the fear he's kept bottled for the past few 
  days, flowing out as he speaks. "I..it can't tell me. I..I want to st..stay 
  with Eve. Sh..she said she l..loved me, and T..Tela can't. N..not they way I 
  thought it should b..be."
Rykos slumps forward, resting partially against your outstretched arm. "B..but 
  if she ever a..asked I..I would go t..to her. E..even though I,,I think I 
  love Eve."

Kevlan says softly, not moving if it'll help you, "You oughtta talk t' Eve 
  'bout that, Ah think... wouldn't be fair t' settle down with 'er, othahwise."

Rykos nods sadly, his voice filled with a sense of fear and misery "I..I know. 
  B..but she might l..leave." He lowers his eyes to study the floor again. 
  "Th..then I'll be alone again."

Kevlan finally settles down beside you, the motion barely audible on the 
  corridor's well-muffled floor tiles.
You say "Ah know... bein' alone's a... scary thought, innit?"

Rykos nods. "I..I have been f..for so much lately. E..ever since I..I left 
  home. O..only Tela seemed to understand."

You say "Ah was... scared silly, when Ah-Ah-Ah thought Berni was nevah comin' 
  back t' me. It's real scary, that kind of 'alone'...."

Rykos says "Wh..when I..I was in th..that tank i..it was the same. N..Nothing 
  n..nobody. Only the darkness and th..the people in my head. I..It felt 
  l..like I..I was still th..there. Even wh..when I came out.""

Kevlan considers, glancing at his hands, and idly flexing his long fingers. He 
  almost smiles a bit, rubbing two fingertips together. "Ah... Ah'm learnin' 
  again, music kinda he'ps that... Ah mean... if you're all locked up in your 
  head an' ever'thin'.... "

Rykos nods slowly. "Th..that's wh..what I'm trying. P..play w..with Eve helps."

Kevlan smiles a little, still half-looking at his hands. He finally just nods.

Rykos sighs a little, trying to regain control of his emotions. "I..I gues I..I 
  should t..talk to her."

Kevlan murmurs, "Talkin's... real hard, Ah-Ah cain't talk good 'bout this kinda 
  thang. But you oughtta try, at least."

Rykos nods, "I..I c..can't either. B..but always h..have to try an n..not hurt 
  anyone." He looks across to you, still a little sadly. "S..say hello to 
  B..Bernadette and t..tel her I'm s..sorry"
Rykos slowly gets to his feet again.

Kevlan rises as well, and repeats, "Ah don't hold nothin' agin' you. Ah'll tell 
  'er, though." He pauses, then adds, "Glad you're okay... "

Rykos looks at you again, trying to see something as reassurrance. Finally he 
  nods slowly. "Th..thank-you...I..I'll go n..now."
Rykos stops fora moment then adds. "D..don't e..ever let her g..go" He walks 
  away before you get a chance to respond.

Kevlan, when you look at him, is the very picture of earnestness, and he nods 
  softly. "Lady smile on you," he calls after you, and vanishes into his room.

[End log.]